How to obtain it. 247 



important part of the fish culturist's art, and one that seems to 

 have been entirely overlooked in the past. It was found out years 

 ago at the Solway Fishery that by allowing the grass and other '.x-" ' 

 plants to grow, instead of cutting them too much, a host of live 

 stock was produced, and the fish became accustomed to this from 

 their infancy. It is a pretty sight, indeed, to watch the little fish 

 in May, when just commencing life in earnest, rising freely to the 

 fly. It is clear that when the sward is kept bare and the flies are 

 not to be found, the fish cannot take them, and if they do not get 

 the chance they lose the lesson, and a most important one it is. 

 Where flies are produced in large numbers the little fish learn to 

 take them beautifully ; nay, they look for them daily, and depend 

 upon them, and the lesson which is learnt in infancy, and impressed 

 upon them in so practical a manner, is never forgotten. They 

 get a liking for entomology which they never lose, and in after-life 

 will do credit to their race. 



There is undoubtedly a good deal to say in favour of inherited 

 instinct, and a race of fish brought up to bottom feeding may be 

 followed by a bottom feeding progeny. Even should this be the 

 case, however, early training will prove successful, and the trained 

 fish will win the prize against others. But by feeding them on 

 the surface, and keeping a large number of fish in a pond, an eager- 

 ness is acquired to "go for " their food that is not known amongst 

 wild fish. This tendency provides a wonderful facility for training 

 them, and, as I have already said, they may be taught to do 

 almost anything reasonable, if placed in the hands of an expert 

 who is well up in his work. It must not for a moment be 

 supposed that Dick, Tom, or Harry, if entrusted with the care of 

 a lot of trout, would manage them successfully, even with the aid 

 of books. It requires much patience and skill, and a sort of 

 "inherited instinct" or love of nature on the part of the man, 

 without which the case is hopeless. The individual who possesses 

 this faculty, and there are many who do, may succeed with due 

 care and a sufficient amount of training. 



A good deal has been said about fish, in these days of 

 progress, ceasing in some places to rise as freely as formerly to the 

 fly. The fact is that many waters are so overfished that the fly- 

 taking trout get caught, and so gradually leave behind a bottom- 



