FISH-BREEDING. 463 



I have given these few facts to show that a pond is easily 

 stocked with Trout, and the streams below as a matter of 

 course. With a little care, and providing ponds below (as 

 would have been the case had the original owner just alluded 

 to remained in possession), the number and size might have 

 been increased to the utmost capacity of the water. 



If fish are thus easily bred and reared with so little atten- 

 tion, by natural propagation, the ova being unprotected on 

 the spawning-beds, and the young subjected to the ravages 

 of the large fish, how must it be when all causes which would 

 prevent the hatching of impregnated spawn are removed, 

 and the young, by a proper arrangement, kept from being 

 devoured ? 



In stocking ponds, an observing person will remember to 

 put in such fish as the water is suitable or natural to. 



A pond for Trout should have as great a proportion of spring 

 or cool brook water as is possible, though it is not essential in 

 all cases that the supply should be large. If the stream which 

 supplies it enters in a rough little cascade, it is better, as the 

 water is thereby mixed with air. If there be several ponds 

 on the same brook, they should be supplied in the same man- 

 ner, if the fall in the stream is sufficient. Each should have 

 a shallow shelving margin, as well as a deep side ; plenty of 

 shade, trees, and shrubbery, to encourage the presence of 

 flies and insects ; also aquatic plants, rock, stones, and peb- 

 bles through the pond and on the margin. Shallow water 

 strewed with pebbles is considered as necessary as aerated 

 water in the natural propagation of Trout, though few of 

 these conditions were found in the pond just described, for it 

 was almost of uniform depth, and the back-water covered the 

 springs that supplied it. 



In breeding the difiPerent species of the Perch family, 

 aerated water, or evrn that of a low temperature, is not so 



