How to obtain it. 239 



learned by experience ; the knowledge certainly cannot be gained 

 from books. When the fish come up for their food with a good 

 appetite, as they will if left long enough between meals, it is a 

 good sign, and they may be freely fed. The distribution of the 

 food should be managed carefully, and not too much given at one 

 dip of the feeding box. Much care is required that no food is 

 allowed to go to the bottom uneaten. Should it be allowed by 

 any accident to get there, it must be carefully removed, which 

 may be done by means of a fine gauze net. Sometimes, when the 

 feeding of fry is managed by beginners, the bottom of a pond is 

 allowed to get covered with uneaten food. I have seen such 

 cases, and what has happened may happen again. Should such 

 an occurrence as this take place it would be very difficult to 

 remove all the food, and if nothing be done it will assuredly 

 pollute the water, and probably produce disease, which may soon 

 play sad havoc amongst the fish. 



The best thing to do in such a case is to scatter a little 

 finely-sifted earth over the pond. It will settle on and about the 

 offensive matter, and if this be followed up by a good covering of 

 clean gravel, the bottom will once more be rendered clean and 

 pure. Earth is an excellent thing to use occasionally in the I 

 ponds. It is good for the fish, and is such a powerful deodoriser j 

 that it tends to absorb, and so keep down any impurities that 

 may exist. It is often desirable to use it in the rearing boxes 

 before the fish are turned out of the hatchery. Some good 

 clean earth should be selected. A few sods from a good old 

 pasture are the best, and, to use them, they should be put into a 

 tub full of water and well stirred and shaken, so that the earth is 

 washed out of them. Then the liquid may be poured off into the 

 pond, or the inside boxes, as the case may be. Pour it off care- 

 fully, and if screened through fine perforated zinc so much the 

 better, as this prevents lumps and fibrous or rooty matter going 

 into the pond. It is only the muddy water which is required, and 

 there need be no fear in using it freely. 



I have often watched the effect of doses of earth given in this 



.way, and have found them to be highly beneficial. In a natural 



stream a considerable quantity of earth comes down with the 



water every time there is a freshet, and in the rearing boxes and 



