268 How to obtain it. 



these cannot be found than making them into eel baskets, which 

 are profitable to work, in addition to being exceedingly useful in 

 keeping down the trout's worst enemies. The pond mud which 

 is shovelled out at spawning time when the ponds are cleaned is 

 a capital manure for many crops, and amongst other things I may 

 mention a couple of thousand black-currant bushes, which I find 

 it suits admirably. 



Trout cannot see their food at a great distance, but when a 

 handful is thrown into a pond a few fish are sure to be near, and 

 they go for it ; other fish seeing them, get the signal, and soon the 

 water is in a state of great commotion. They soon see the 

 attendant who feeds them when he makes his appearance on the 

 bank of a pond, and they get to know him. When very hungry, 

 however, they will often come to a stranger. Colours evidently 

 make an impression upon them. I have seen a whole pond-full 

 of fish not only refuse to feed, but keep out of sight when a lady 

 in a light-coloured dress or with a parasol has appeared on the 

 bank. 



I have had trout so tame that they would come and take food 

 out of my hand, but they are rather rough in their manners, and 

 their sharp teeth will sometimes lacerate the hand severely. Any- 

 one trying this experiment and being successful, is not likely to 

 keep it up long. Trout have been credited with very rapid 

 digestive powers. I am not so sure that their digestion is always 

 so rapid, however, and care should be taken not to overfeed them. 

 They are certainly more liable to disease when too well fed. A 

 little practice will soon enable the caretaker to know when suffi- 

 cient food has been given. 



It sometimes happens that trout will not take food. This is 

 often notably the case during times of hard frost when there is 

 ice on the water, 'At spawning time also they eat very little, and 

 after being handled, as for instance for sorting or counting. This 

 should never be done except at spawning time, when it is desirable 

 to examine every fish on the farm that is over two years of age. 

 This work should be carried out just before the spawning work 

 commences, and should be finished before the actual " stripping " 

 of the fish is begun. Trout eat twice as much in summer as they 

 do in winter, and often more than this. As a general rule it may 



