g60 
THE OHARS. 
that m the summer, when they keep at the greatest depths of 
the lakes, only a few are to be taken with a line— too few to 
compensate for the time and labour that must be engaged in 
the work, and it is known that these fish are always slow to 
take a bait. But on the other hand this view of things has 
been pronounced a misrepresentation; and in the summer, when 
Chars are believed to be in their best condition, the reason 
assigned by others for their not being fished for is, that the 
fishermen at that season prefer to follow some more profitable 
occupation. Those persons however who amuse themselves by 
fishing for Chars in the summer, pursue the sport by means of 
a line of sufficient depth to reach the bottom of the lake which 
may be with a depth of forty fathoms; and to cause it to sink 
a bullet of lead is employed. That these will take a bait and 
sometimes even eagerly, is known by the enticement of a 
Minnow, which is found to be a successful lure. Dr. John 
Davy describes this method of fishing, which is with a lath 
and on Windermere the main line measures about sixty yards’ 
added to which what is termed the first dropper is about 
twenty-four yards, with eight yards of gut; the second dropper 
measuring about twenty-two yards; and the last, which is nearest 
the board or lath, that moves like a boy’s plaything kite, about 
twenty yards; each of these droppers with the same length of 
gut as the first. This line is fastened to an erect pole, and 
as the boat is rowed gently forward, observation is directed to 
the line by its vibration when a fish has seized the bait. 
In proportion to their size Chars seem to feed much like 
the Salmon, to which fish also the armature of their mouth 
bears a resemblance; and worms with small water insects are 
their ordinary food. It is only on some rare occasions that 
they have been known to take the angler’s fly when fishing 
for Trout, as will be noticed when we treat of the Torsoch or 
Welsh Char. -■•oigocn, or 
When engaged in shedding the spawn, these fish assemble 
where the water is moderately shallow; and this probably for 
the sake of light as well as air; in addition to which warmth 
must have as ready an influence on the development of the 
young as it is known to have on those of the Salmon and 
Trout. Dr. Davy gives a short account of his observations on 
this subject by remarking that on the twenty-fifth day of 
