232 How to obtain it. 



times. Several machines have been invented for feeding fry, some 

 of which are ingenious. The principle is a rotary wheel, which is 

 charged with food, and is so arranged as to be constantly letting 

 out a small quantity in the course of its revolutions. These 

 machines have not, however, come into general use. Fish do 

 not feed so regularly as the machines would have them' do. 

 Sometimes they eat more and sometimes less, according to 

 surrounding circumstances, such as temperature, light, atmospheric 

 conditions, etc., and a fish culturist is aware of these changes, and 

 can act accordingly. I have known a machine go on discharging 

 food into a rearing box when the fish were off the feed, until the 

 water became sickly, and it cloes not take long to bring about 

 such a result. 



There is a great advantage, too, in having the boxes and fish 

 under constant supervision, which is the case if hand-fed. A 

 caretaker can see any little change or notice any irregularity that 

 may cccur anywhere, and it can have his attention at once. It 

 often happens that such attention is necessary, and will prevent 

 great injury being done, or perhaps great loss of life. The fish 

 should be carefully watched and their every movement noticed 

 from day to day, comparing one day with another, and in this way 

 much will soon be learned that cannot be acquired from any 

 books. The food should be varied a good deal, and I use a large 

 quantity of eggs for feeding the young fry. They may be used 

 either raw or"boiled, and, if raw, the yolk and white may be mixed 

 together and water added, and the liquid decanted as described 

 in the case of liver. Curd made of rennet and milk is also ex- 

 cellent in limited quantity, but both this and egg should be 

 cautiously used. Too much of either may prove hurtful. 



The best artificial food that I have ever met with, however, 

 is shrimp paste, and this I have used as well as mussel paste, for 

 \ feeding and rearing fry, and have found it most successful. To 

 make it the shrimps have to be boiled and shelled, and the same 

 applies to the mussels when they are used. A No. 22 " Excelsior'' 

 chopper, which may be obtained through any ironmonger, will be 

 found excellent for preparing this or other food for fish of any 

 description, small or large. I have had an extra fine plate made 

 for preparing this paste, which may be procured with the machine 



