ON LAKES, POOLS, ETC. 157 



named fish ; and it would be worth while to con- 

 sider, whether it be advisable to increase the number 

 of destructive and voracious fish winch inhabit our 

 waters, and which might by any accident become 

 naturalized in our more valuable fisheries, where their 

 introduction would be but a nuisance and a mis- 

 fortune. If, however, variety be thought desirable, 

 where it can do no harm, I have nothing further to 

 urge against it. 



The Silurus (Silurus Giants) is a fish of very 

 singular habits. It exists in many of the Swedish 

 lakes — formerly it abounded in Denmark. It is 

 found to grow to a very large size in the Danube, 

 even up to the weight of 300 lbs. It is, therefore, 

 alike a lake and river fish. The flesh is said to be 

 very excellent for the table. The habits of the fish 

 are sluggish, but it is amazingly voracious, and, such 

 being the case, we might well hesitate to introduce a 

 fish which has the capability of increasing to 300 lbs. 

 weight, and the capacity for creating a watery desert 

 around him. Not being active in its movements, it 

 has recourse to cunning, and takes its victims after 

 the same fashion as the " angler or fishing- frog." By 

 means of plying the barbels on its nose, it attracts 

 the fish, and they are immediately engulphed in the 

 huge cavernous mouth, which rises from below, where 



