KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



243 



Trout (Salmofario) are plentiful in most of the 

 lakes and becks; those in the latter being gene- 

 rally smaller, and used for potting, when they 

 are not unfrequently passed off for " potted char." 

 Salmon trout (Salmo truttd) are not so pleatiful, 

 though by no means rare. In the autumnal 

 season, large salmon pass through the rivers and 

 lakes, for the purpose of depositing their spawn ; 

 and before the institution of the " Vale of Der- 

 wentwater Association," were speared and netted 

 in quantities, to the no small diminution of the 

 species, and annoyance of regular anglers. 



Brandlings (pretty little fishes, about three 

 inches long, with bright red spots) are the first 

 year's produce. They are frequently caught in 

 the becks, making their way to the lakes and 

 larger streams. The year next following they 

 become smelts, or fry; and from their increased 

 size are more worthy of the angler's pains. The 

 most valuable fish in the lakes' district, how- 

 ever, and one almost peculiar to it, is the famous 

 " char," found in great plenty in the Lakes 

 Crummock, Buttermere, Windermere, and met 

 with as well in three others. In the summer 

 season, they retire to the deepest parts of the 

 lake, and are only taken with the net; and then, 

 but sparingly. At this season, the great influx of 

 visitors causes a demand for them, and they 

 usually reach the exorbitant price of sixpence a 

 piece, This for fish about six ounces in weight, 

 is "tidy." In winter they come to the shallows 

 to spawn ; and it is then that the stores for 

 "potting'' are procured. This is the prettiest 

 of the salmon family, having a bright metallic 

 lustre, especially towards the belly, where there 

 is a dash of rich golden hue. The flesh is as 

 high in color as the finest salmon, and in my 

 opinion, is far superior in flavor. A small pot 

 of " char " fetches seven-and-sixpence ; and is 

 often nothing more than a few smelts, brandlings, 

 or fell-back trout. The color, however, betrays 

 them to the connoisseur; and it is only on 

 strangers that such tricks are tried. Other 

 fishes, of no economical value, but of interest 

 to the student, are to be met with; such 

 the Loach (Cobitis barbatula), or " Gobbie,"' as 

 it is here termed. This frequently affords rare 

 sport to juveniles. Emancipated from school on 

 Saturdays, these younkers may be seen stand- 

 ing up to the knees in streams, fork in hand, 

 spearing the unoffending little creatures. Min- 

 nows, of course, are very plentiful, and are used 

 as "bait" by the angler. 



The Schelly — a silvery-coated fish, much re- 

 sembling the Herring, with large thick scales — is 

 abundant in Ullswater, and is usually procured 

 in great quantities ; but from the size of its 

 bones, it seldom finds its way to table. The 

 Chevin is mentioned by Wordsworth as inhabit- 

 ing the north-end of the same lake. I have 

 never seen it myself, nor have any of my angling 

 acquaintance. 



Yarrell gives some interesting particulars re- 

 garding the " Char" (Salmo alpinus), which I 

 have had verified by an old brother of the rod. 

 He states that the trout and Char both leave the 

 lake Windermere about the same time, for the 

 purpose of spawning. They enter the Rothay, 

 where they continue their joint emigration till 

 they come to the junction with the Brathay, 



about half a mile up. Here the " Char" collect 

 their new forces, and march up this new stream ; 

 while the Trout continue their course up the 

 Rothay. D. 



BIKDS OF SONG. 



No. XXXL— THE BABILLABD. 



This is just the very season for a lover 

 of Nature to revel in delight. Every week, 

 nay, every day, brings with it something 

 new — something marvellous to behold ; and 

 whilst gazing on the works of Providence, 

 as manifested in the Creation, in their daily 

 progress, we are pleasingly constrained to 

 say with the good, the amiable James Her- 

 vey — " Even inanimate Nature is all but 

 vocal with the Creator's praise." 



The glorious days of harvest are now quite 

 over. The golden sheaves of corn have been 

 carried to the barn, and safely housed ; and 

 all is joy and rejoicing with the farmers and 

 their dependents : — 



" There's merry laughter in the field, — 

 And harmless jest and frolic rout; 

 And the last harvest-wain goes by, 

 With its rustling load so pleasantly, 

 To the glad clamorous harvest-shout." 



A right pleasant sight is this; and right 

 welcome are such jocund sounds, as they are 

 borne upon the breeze ! And see — ■ 



There are the busy gleaners in the field — 

 The old, whose work is never done, 

 And eager, laughing, childish bands, 

 Rubbing the ears in their little hands, 

 And singing 'neath the autumn sun. 



And what is better still, our little friends, 

 the birds, are again abroad in their usual 

 haunts ; singing and making melody in their 

 hearts, while the operations of the season 

 are thus cheerfully going on. 



'Tis now that the blooming u merrie 

 maidens," and their loving swains, hie forth 

 to the woods and thickets, to gather nuts 

 from off the heavily-laden boughs : — 



Come, virgins, come ! Eor you their latest song 



The woodlands raise; the clust'ring nuts for you 



The lover finds amid the secret shade; 



And where they burnish on the topmost bough, 



With active vigor crushes down the tree, 



Or shakes them ripe from the resigning husk. 



Few pleasures are there greater than this. 

 The remembrance of such sweet pastime 

 carries us back to the " light of other days ; " 

 — but we pass on. 



We now observe with sorrow, that our few 

 remaining summer visitors, the "birds of pass- 

 age," are become strangely fidgetty. They 

 seem, one and all, to know that the time for 

 their departure is at hand ; and a w ell- 

 practised eye can see, in their every move- 

 ment, that they have just " resolved them- 



