390 



Inland Water Culture 



as regularly in the stomachs of wild food fishes, as grass 

 would be found in the stomachs of wild cattle. And 

 just as stock feeding has made progress with the isola- 

 tion and study and increase of the grasses, so fish cul- 

 ture would be advanced by study and cultivation of 

 the staples of wild fish food. 



FIG. 233. Forbes' (14) table of food (at left) and feeding 

 organisms (above). 



Our best fishes are carnivores, and the animals they 

 eat are chiefly a few hardy, prolific, and widely dis- 

 tributed herbivores, such as water-fleas, scuds, midge 

 larvae, mayfly nymphs and other fishes. These feed, 

 of course, on plants; but we hardly know as yet what 

 plants are of most value to them. They thrive where 

 herbage abounds; and yet we know that abundance of 



