174 FISHERMAN'S LURES 



able for the fish when planted to subsist upon? 

 It seems to be generally taken for granted, even 

 by fish culturists, that fish can live on nothing, 

 or something repellent to their appetite; or that 

 fish can perhaps grow their own food. Is such a 

 thing expected of any other creature in the air 

 or on land? The unquestioned, undeniable fact 

 is that food is the one vital thing that means suc- 

 cess to keep up ample and reasonable supply to 

 meet the demand of "plenty of big fish" so often 

 asked for. 



Of course, fish culturists cannot of their own 

 initiative take up such an important work to any 

 great extent, but they can and ought to be the 

 means of calling the attention of higher State 

 officials to the wisdom of it, and the great benefits 

 to the people at large, aside from anglers. 



Fresh-water food-fish, indeed marine fish, are now 

 expensive; a luxury only the rich can command. 

 Fresh-water fish should be made and can be made 

 so plentiful without great cost as to be within 

 the reach of all, at a very low cost. Such a con- 

 dition existed until within recent years. Twenty- 

 five years ago I could buy at Kingston, N. Y., a 

 four-pound buck shad for fifteen cents. A dollar 

 now would not buy its roe. A century ago servants 



