72 FISH CULTURE. 



should be heaped up slightly to make mimic shallows 

 for the fish to bask on, and at intervals of a foot or 

 eighteen inches along the side of the box should be 

 placed half bricks, these causing an eddy and a still 

 resting-place, behind which the little fish will shelter. 

 If this be not done, and the stream chance to be at all 

 strong, the weaker ones will be drawn down against 

 the lower grating, and will there, in all probability, 

 perish. A pond, of course, should be made upon 

 similar principles, and should be carefully gravelled ; 

 but I do not hold with keeping the fry a day after 

 they are able to roam about and seek their own living. 

 I have heard people urge, that if the young fish 

 are turned into the river at that early age, they will 

 fall a prey to predaceous fish. It is possible that a 

 small per-centage of them may, but the remainder will 

 early learn to know their enemies and avoid them ; 

 besides, in putting them into the river, the most 

 shallow places at the sides and the most sheltered 

 spots should be selected, and the fish should be 

 distributed in small numbers in such places as pre- 

 daceous fish are the least likely to come and look for 

 them in. Added to this, the remainder will thrive so 

 much better in the wider area of the river, and will 

 grow so much faster, that this will counterbalance 

 any slight loss ; and further, if the fry are kept until 



