SALMONID^E. Ill 



had good sport. This continued until close-time, and some days hundreds of 

 quarrymen might be seen fishing, some in boats, others from the shore, while as 

 much as 45 lb. a day has fallen to the share of one rod, a bait having been almost 

 invariably used, although a few were taken with a fly. 



A correspondent of The Field, October 28, 1882, remarks upon night fishing 

 for charr with well scoured brandlings and line tackle in North Wales. All is 

 done by feel, and, when a vigorous tug occurs at your line, one has to strike ; at 

 the approach of day the charr begin to bite savagely, as dawn commences the 

 biting ceases, and the fish disappear as if by magic. 



Respecting the Windermere fishing for 1881 it was remarked in Land and 

 Water, November 26, 1881, that the charr fishing was, as usual, very profitable. 

 There can be no better argument in favour of a close season and protection than 

 the great increase in the value of the charr fisheries since such was applied and 

 protection afforded to the fish. 



The mode which is generally carried on by the fishermen as described in The 

 Field is with what is termed a plumb line, which is free to all, and a great number 

 of the natives on the shores of the lake gain a good livelihood by supplying the 

 strangers and hotels with the fish. 



Charr fishing with the plumb line usually commences about the beginning of 

 March, and at that time the fish are got about thirty yards from the surface and 

 in the deepest parts of the lake. As the weather gets warmer they gradually 

 approach the top, and although they are frequently to be seen on a warm day 

 leaping at the flies on the water, yet it is an unheard-of thing on Windermere to 

 cast for them with a rod. The plumb line for charr is made of strong cord, and 

 varies in length according to the number of baits which are to be put on it ; but 

 it is usually between forty and fifty yards long, and this is sufficient to carry five 

 baits. At the end of the line is a lead sinker, weighing about 1^ lb., having a 

 small wing fixed in it, which assists in preventing it from revolving, although it is 

 fixed to the main line with a strong swivel. To this line is attached at intervals 

 of six or seven yards, short lines, or, as they are called by the fishermen, droppers, 

 varying in length from six to ten yards, the shortest line being that nearest the 

 bottom of the main line. What is generally used at Windermere, is a " phantom " 

 made by the fishermen themselves, from sheets coppered on one side and silvered 

 or clear on the other, which can be procured from any coppersmith or ironmonger. 

 The fishermen cut them out with a pair of strong scissors, shaping them to their 

 taste. A small treble hook is put on the phantom, and two yards of strong gut, 

 having at least two swivels, and the remainder of the short line, or " dropper," 

 may be of fine cord. Two lines such as are here described are always used in 

 fishing for charr, one on each side of the boat. 



Having reached the fishing ground, the boat must be rowed slowly, and the 

 sinker is put over the side, and the line allowed to sink until the dropper 

 next to it is reached, when the main line is temporarily fixed, until the " dropper" 

 and phantom is put out ; the main line is then loosened and sunk further, until 

 the next " dropper " is reached and put out, and so on until the whole line is out. 

 This having been done the end of the main line is attached to the top of a strong 

 rod (a young sapling does very well), about fourteen or sixteen feet long, supple 

 at the top, but not too much so, and then the rod is made to rest over the stern 

 of the boat at the side upon which the line has been put out, and the butt end 

 securely fixed in the bottom of the boat. When this has been done the second 

 line may be put out at the side of the boat, in the same way as the first line, and 

 secured with a rod. Care must be taken to have the boat always moving, other- 

 wise the lines will foul. 



It would appear that the preservation of charr leads to a substantial increase 

 in their numbers, and augmentation in the food-producing property of the lake 

 where such is carried out. While these fishes are not so very indifferent to bait 

 and flies as some persons would lead us to believe, the angler with a bait appears 

 to have more chance of sport than the fly-fisher, but the charr of Windermere 

 usually will not rise to the fly, while the Welsh torgoch takes it freely. 



