XXX11 INTRODUCTION. 



at the top of the pool would, in the opinion of Professo* 

 Agassiz and Mr. Shaw, supply them with maggots ; but in 

 this there are difficulties, and when tried by Sir Francis this 

 season, a few of the fry were found dead round the carrion 

 given to them. The droppings of cattle allowed to rest till 

 half dry, and occupied by worms and the ova of insects, 

 appears to suit them best. 



" About the 1st of September last, Sir Francis, when on 

 an agricultural tour of Belgium., visited an establishment be- 

 longing to King Leopold, and adjoining his new palace of 

 Ardennes, on a much more expensive scale than that now 

 described, where the breeding of Trout had been tried for the 

 three previous seasons, though with but little success. 



" A very few small Trout, bred 1839-40, were still alive, 

 but the ova of 1841 were a complete failure, chiefly from not 

 properly covering the spawn with gravel, and other errors. 

 Bread made of brown and white flour mixed was the food 

 found best suited to the few living, who, judging from their 

 shape as seen swimming about in a small pool, were in excellent 

 condition. The Trout-breeding establishment of Ardennes, 

 however, proves that Trout spawn, if treated in the same 

 way as that of Salmon above described, will produce the same 

 successful results ; and that any one possessing a convenient 

 pond or stream may stock it with the best kind of Trout or 

 other fish in one or two years, and by good feeding have them 

 in high condition. Where the Trout already exist, of small 

 size and inferior quality, Sir Francis would advise wholly 

 destroying the breed by saturating the water with quick lime, 

 or any other mode more advisable, and procuring spawn or fry 

 from lakes where the best kinds of Trout are found, in Scot- 

 land or elsewhere. The same may be said of Grayling, Pike, 

 or any other kinds of fish suited to ponds, brooks, or rivers, 

 as may be desired by their owners ; which renders the dis- 

 covery now made known of value to all and in all quarters, 

 as well as to salmon-fishing proprietors." 



