Salt to Fresh Water, 241 



Firth of Forth, belonging to Sir Robert Preston ; and one in 

 Galloway, belonging to Mr. Macdouall. 



On the Greek coast of the Adriatic, at Missolonghi and else- 

 where, the same has been practised from immemorial time. It is 

 the current practice also of Bermuda, where the inhabitants sub- 

 sist chiefly on fish. 



These are sea-ponds, as the water is salt. But in Sicily, from 

 the most ancient times also, the natives transport lobsters and 

 crabs to a fresh-water and muddy lake, for the purpose of im- 

 proving them, as they also do mullet. 



With respect to fresh waters, we have evidence of the power of 

 keeping and improving sea-fish in them, from the practice of the 

 ancient Romans. From the testimony of Columella, and the 

 other writers, " de Re Rustica," it was the practice of the Roman 

 farmers, in the earliest days of the Republic, to go down to the 

 sea and bring up the spawn of sea-fish to the fresh-water lakes of 

 Rome, where they multiplied and improved. It was a branch of 

 farming. It became the amusement and luxury of the rich and 

 great in the times of Imperial Rome ; enormous establishments of 

 this nature were formed, and the fish were often fed at an ex- 

 pense which, as well as the value of the ponds, proves the great 

 extent of these repositories. 



Lastly, this plan has been recently put to the test under the 

 .direction of the writer of this note, in Guernsey, by Mr. Arnold. In 

 a pond of about four acres only, many sea^fish, which will be found 

 in the following list, are now thriving, and all those which have 

 had sufficient time have propagated : all have improved in qua- 

 lity, and many very remarkably. This pond was at first worth- 

 less, containing only a few eels ; at present it produces a large 

 rent, and can supply the market when the weather prevents the 

 boats from going out. It is remarkable also, that, since the in- 

 troduction of the sea-fish, the eels have multiplied a thousand 

 fold, so as themselves to produce a considerable revenue. This 

 proves that fish may be fed, merely, by bringing diflferent kinds 

 together, as is the case in nature. It may be added, that the 

 evidence from this pond is peculiarly satisfactory, as far as re- 

 Voi, XIX. R 



