90 FISH CULTURE. 



CHAPTER IV. 



ON THE FOOD OF FISH AND ITS PRODUCTION. 



There is not an insect or small reptile that inhabits 

 the soil beneath us, the air above us, or the waters 

 around us, that is not food for fishes in a greater or 

 less degree. Worms of all kinds, flies of all kinds, 

 grubs and larva of all kinds, cockchafers, crickets, 

 leeches, snails, humble-bees, young birds, mice, rats, 

 frogs, beetles, all serve the turn of one fish or another, 

 and so in turn help to produce food for man. Black 

 beetles, for example, often looked on as a nuisance in 

 houses, are caviare to the trout ; and I have seen two 

 or three trout devour a panful of them with the 

 greatest avidity. Nay, I have seen a wary old six- 

 pound stream trout, that had been tempted with 

 every conceivable variety of bait, succumb to the 

 temptation of a black beetle. Small frogs, just 

 emerged from tadpoleism, they rejoice in exceed- 

 ingly ; and I have even seen them take young toads, 

 though some do repudiate the taste on the trout's 



