Mr. W. Thompson's Notes on British Char. 4 H) 



L. Gartan, county Donegal*. Hence, on July 18, 1838, 

 I was favoured with a specimen by John Vandeleur Stewart, 

 Esq., of Rockhiil, Letterkenny. This gentleman remarked at 

 the same time, that it was taken with the fly about five weeks 

 previously, and that there are a great many Char in the lake, 

 which is seven miles distant from Letterkenny. It is 10 

 inches in length, and a fine example of the " Northern Char"— 

 the spots, which are numerous, are nearly all below the lateral 

 line. 



L. Dan, county Wicklowf. From this lake several Char 

 have been kindly sent me by my friend Mr. R. Callwell, 

 of Dublin. None are above 7^ inches in length ; they pre- 

 sent some of the characters both of the Northern and Welsh 

 Char, but appertain more to the former. In February 1839, 

 Mr. George Smith, of Baggot Street, Dublin, informed me, 

 that in summer, four or five years since, he, when using small 

 showy flies (with which they are often captured here), took 

 thirteen Char in this lake within half an hour; the water 

 was very rough— they were all taken within the space of two 

 yards, though he fished to some little distance on every side. 

 In the summer of 1838 this gentleman saw about a dozen 

 Char lying dead and much swollen on the banks of Lough 

 Dan. Mr. Smith has, within the last few years, seen Char 

 about 1 5 inches long caught in Llanberris lake in North Wales. 

 It will be remembered that Pennant mentions this fish as 

 once found here, but as entirely destroyed by the mineral 

 streams from the copper mines contiguous to the lake. 



Lo ugh n a. brack, county Longford. In Mr. R. BalPs col- 

 lection is a Char from this locality. 



L. Corrib, county Galway. I have been favoured with an 

 example from this extensive lake by Mr. W. R. Wilde, who 

 states that Char are captured here in great quantity (especially 

 about Cong) in draught-nets along with Salmon throughout 

 the season for taking this fish — from the 1st May to the 12th 

 August. It is commonly called here Murneene, and by those 

 who give an English name, " Freshwater Herring." These 

 names are applied to the Char in three lakes in the county 

 Mayo, and from all of which Mr. Wilde has seen specimens. 

 The example from L. Corrib is 13,} inches in length, and would 

 be called the Northern Char — in a dry state, and after being 

 preserved for some time, it is in all respects identical with my 

 specimens from Windermere. 



A few very brief remarks may be offered in conclusion. It 



* When visiting Lough Derg in this county, in the autumn of 1837, I 

 was assured that Char are abundant in it. 



f In the lake of Luggela, in this county, the Char is likewise taken. 

 Ann. Mag. N. Hist. Vol. vi. 2 g 



