WHEN FIT FOR MARKET. 37 



the sea can be recovered in the short time of two years, 

 and turned to large account. Smaller streams, on the same 

 principles, may be restored with equal certainty, but after 

 a longer term of labour and attention : for four years must 

 elapse before the first brood will be fit to be taken, which 

 time expiring, every fish of that age in the stream will be 

 in good order for the market ; but previous to this time 

 they furnish good sport to the angler. At that age the fish, 

 being then about three ^pounds weight, should be taken out 

 and sent to market, when he is in high perfection, leaving 

 the then forward-coming brood as successors in their place. 

 In fresh-water streams, where the fish do not migrate, no 

 fish should be allowed to attain a greater weight than from 

 three to four pounds, for this reason as they get larger 

 they consume much more food in proportion to their 

 smaller companions, and keep down the stock by destroy- 

 ing the egg or spawn, as well as the young fry. There is 

 no exception in fish preying upon spawn, if they can get 

 at it ; one sort is not one jot less voracious than another 

 leather-mouthed or sharp-toothed, they are all alike, and 

 are not at all particular whether it is their own production 

 or that of other species : the older a fish gets the more 

 destructive he becomes ; and therefore these should be the 

 first to be removed from a fishery, excepting always a few 

 for brood. 



When fisheries are well up, it is advisable to take all the 



