WANT OF CONDITION. 11 



had a small bend made from the stream, which was well 

 gravelled, and guarded at either end with perforated zinc 

 plates, and the top covered over, so that neither water-fowl 

 nor heron could ravage the hill. It was spawned with 

 more than 10,000 eggs; but notwithstanding this seeming 

 prosperity, not more than a dozen fry came forth, the re- 

 mainder being all addled. 



Fish which can obtain their food in an easy and peace- 

 able way will increase far more rapidly than those which 

 have to travel far for it. This I have explained to 

 many gentlemen who have asked me the question 

 how it was that their trout were in condition not longer 

 than two or three months in the year. The simple answer 

 is, that during eight months of the twelve, they are, from 

 scarcity of food, so starved that they are compelled to 

 feed upon the smaller sort of their own fraternity, which, 

 being swift of movement, become difficult to take ; so that 

 they are more like skeletons, or the heads and tails of 

 trout, than fish worth taking, and do not get into con- 

 dition till the fly-season comes round again. Nor are 

 trout the only fish which practise spawn-robbery : for it 

 is generally known to fishermen, that all sorts of fish 

 are given to this piracy, and eagerly devour spawn and 

 the young fry. At once to prove this, and bring the 

 charge home to them, I need only mention that the roe 

 of any fish in the spring season is a deadly bait, too 



