46 An Angler's Paradise. 



a great variety, and a copious, supply, of the creatures on which 

 trout and other fish feed, consisting largely of Entomostraca, 

 whereas, in other places, there is a great scarcity of this minute 

 yet exceedingly valuable fish food. The conditions that favour 

 the growth of these creatures, and their presence or absence from 

 any given piece of water, are matters of vital importance, and 

 should be carefully studied. The insect life has also a very 

 important bearing upon the future of the fisheries, and in some 

 localities there is at times a great scarcity, although at other times 

 ,j there may be a great abundance of this food. We find there are 

 || two things which tend to stunt the growth of trout, and they are, 

 (; uncertain supplies or scarcity of food, and low temperature. 



The difficulty of low temperature can, however, be overcome, 

 if on the other hand a good food supply is always available. I 

 have grown fish to several pounds in weight in water of a low 

 temperature by feeding them, and herein lies the main secret of 

 success. Cold water and little food, which is the state of things 

 existing in some mountain lakes or tarns, will dwarf the fish ; but 

 given a sufficiency of suitable food, the latter will improve. Where 

 I races have thus been permanently dwarfed for a long series of 

 years, the introduction of new blood is undoubtedly advantageous, 

 but the alteration of Nature's balance should be attended to first. 

 Apply the power, and so increase the food supply, the 

 improvement of the fish will follow in the natural order of things. 

 That many comparatively barren pieces of water might be so 

 improved is certain, and this applies to any district where suitable 

 trout water is to be found. Trout are increasing in numbers in 

 Windermere, and in quality and size are excellent. This is what 

 may be expected, for the pike have been successfully reduced in 

 quantity, and a moderate amount of trout culture has been 

 carried on. These two operations must tell their tale, other 

 things of course being equal. There is scope in Windermere 

 lake alone, and a natural food supply, that is capable of being 

 made to produce very large results indeed. There are in 

 Windermere, as in many of the other lakes, enormous quantities 

 of eels, and these should be attended to as well as the pike, for 

 they are most destructive to trout. A single eel, one pound in 

 weight, will clean out hundreds of yearlings, or thousands of fry, 



