2 FISH CULTURE : 



process, the rivers of China have come to abound 

 with fish, to such an extent, that it forms the staple 

 of food amongst the lower classes. 



The Eomans followed the Chinese in their practice 

 of pisciculture. During the republic, the art was 

 employed to supply the wants of the nation ; under 

 the empire it was extended and improved by the 

 luxurious nobles, until it became a hobby upon 

 which the ambitious gourmand lavished his treasure 

 to an extent which, even in the present age, would be 

 regarded with wonder. Speaking of the achievements 

 of Lucullus, M. Jourdier (one of the French piscicul- 

 turists, who has written an interesting work upon the 

 culture of fish, leeches, &c. &c), quoting M. Guezon 

 Duval, says that, " at his house at Tusculum, on the 

 borders of the Gulf of Naples, he dug large trenches, 

 or canals, running from his fishponds to the sea. 

 Into these canals the fresh-water streams were con- 

 ducted, and a pure running water thus kept up. 

 Many of the sea fish, which spawn in fresh water, 

 entered these canals and stocked the ponds with their 

 fry, and, on their return to the sea, flood-gates were 

 placed at the entrance of the canals, closing the 

 passage, and while their posterity was growing, the 

 fish themselves furnished the market." 



These proceedings on the part of Lucullus were 



