1 70 WOLF-H UNTING. 



continuously from the sea. As the reservoirs are formed like 

 a flight of steps, one below the other, a stream flows steadily 

 through them, and thus, by its motion, the air of the water is 

 constantly renewed a process rendered necessary by the respira- 

 tion of the fish, which would soon exhaust the fresh air of a still 

 tank and die from the want of it. 



An ingenious over-shot wheel had been designed for doing 

 the laborious work of continuously pumping the water to the 

 topmost reservoir ; which water, on quitting the lowest reservoir, 

 was to fall rapidly over a wooden shoot into the boxes of the 

 wheel and thus give it the needful rotatory power. Allowing for 

 waste and evaporation, it was expected this wheel would supply 

 the reservoirs with sufficient water for nine days out of ten, but 

 that on every tenth day it would be necessary to make up the 

 deficiency by the usual manual labour. This contrivance, how- 

 ever, at the time of our visit, was in embryo ; but I doubt not 

 its proportions have been developed long since, and that it is now 

 doing its giant work with the utmost effect 



A few words more on the construction of the reservoirs. 

 These, forming a length altogether of about 80 metres, are 

 divided into at least 100 cells by galvanised wire-net partitions, 

 which, while they keep the different species of fish separate, 

 permit a free passage to the running stream ; so, in each com- 

 partment each kind gets the food peculiar to it, and seems to 

 enjoy life as though unconscious of captivity. Nor, regulated 

 by the outlet, can the usually, pellucid water ever become too 

 deep in the reservoirs ; and thus the habits and instincts of the 

 fish can at all times be watched by M. Coste and his observant 

 staff a point of considerable importance in the interest of 

 ichthyological science. 



So much for the building and its mechanical fittings ; now for 

 the live stock contained within its walls. On approaching the 

 first reservoir, and before it was possible for the fish to see us,. 



