TROUT IN S.A. WATERS 273 



seek the bottom of deep pools to rest and feed upon 

 what comes along, but after recuperation occasionally 

 the most vigorous and best conditioned trout are found in 

 speedy riotous water even when the temperature of the 

 water is high. This may arise from the fact that running 

 water is cooler on the surface than that which is stagnant, 

 as well as more highly oxygenated and stimulating to 

 the fish. Perhaps also the habit of lying about in sh'allow 

 water running over a pebbly bottom in bright sunshine is 

 nature's antidote to parasitic growths which are known 

 to develop when the water gets low. Any interference 

 with the natural conditions of trout water requires the 

 most careful and expert consideration, for there is an 

 interdependence between every type of living organism 

 in water, as on land, and any interference may dis- 

 organize the whole system. We are now beginning to 

 hear that fishing is falling off in certain waters, that the 

 fish are in poor condition here and very small there. 

 This arises from a lack of knowledge on the part of those 

 who stocked the waters, and of those who supervise or do 

 not supervise. The mere addition of a few thousand 

 alevins or fry per annum to a river, coupled with very oc- 

 casional or no protection against illegal capture is of no 

 avail unless the natural resources of the water be de- 

 veloped to secure the regular feeding and protection of the 

 stock. Everything must not be left to nature if our rivers 

 are to be properly and economically developed and main 

 tained. Experience teaches that every river should be 

 treated as a whole by a central Conservancy Board or 

 Association and not divided up into sections, each of 

 which is subject to the whim, care or neglect of ripariaa 

 owners. 



It is a mere waste of time, energy and money to deal 

 with one section of a river unless control is secured ove^ 

 the waters below and above the section. It is useless 

 to remove vermin in one section if they find sanctuary 

 in the next, and it is not fair that the stock placed in one 



