BREEDING FISHES, 



The share of hfe which some fish possess, is 

 worthy the notice of every curious angler. — The 

 eel, being cut in pieces, retains hfe and motion 

 for several hours. A carp will move rigorously 

 some time after the intestines are takea out of 

 its body; but I shall say more on several of 

 these heads in treating of each particular species 

 of iish. 



Fish, considered as a food, make a consider- 

 able addition to the furniture of the table ; and 

 the breeding, feeding, &c. thereof, is apeculiar art, 

 and it is very necessary, for the sake of economy, 

 that every country gentleman should know some- 

 thing of the method. To this relate the ponds, 

 stews, &c. which shall be described in their pro- 

 per places. 



It may not be here unacceptable to give the 

 reader some general rules on the subject. 



RULE I. 



FOR BREEDING FISHES. 



The quality of the pond, water, See. proper 

 to this end, is scarcely determinable by any cer- 

 tain symptom or rule: for some very promising 

 ponds do not prove serviceable that way. One 

 of the best indications of a breeding pond, is 

 when there is a good store of rushes and grazing 

 about it, with gravelly shoals; such as horse- 

 ponds usually have; so that when a water takes 

 thus to breeding, with a few Milters and Spawn- 

 CIS, two or three of each, a whole country may 

 be stocked in a short time. Eels and perches 

 are of a very good use to keep down the stock 

 of fish ; for they prey much upon the spawn and 

 fry of bred fish, and will probably destroy the 



