AETIFICIAL HATCHING OF SPAWN. 73 



they are of fair size, fed regularly every day, never 

 seeing an enemy of any kind what will become of 

 them when they are turned at once into deep water 

 amongst foes, without the preliminary and proba- 

 tionary life on the comparatively safe shallows, being 

 all unaccustomed to seek their own food or to see 

 enemies ? They are far more likely to fall victims 

 then, and less likely to thrive on their own exer- 

 tions, unless it be proposed to keep them until they 

 are beyond the size taken by pike or large trout, in 

 which case I do not think the pisciculturist would 

 be likely to repeat his experiment. The trouble and 

 expense of looking after and feeding the young fish, 

 too, is very considerable ; so that, all things con- 

 sidered, it is far better to turn the fry in as soon as 

 possible. Still, it may be thought desirable to keep 

 some of them at any rate for a time, so we will con- 

 sider their feeding. This at first must be done very 

 sparsely, or they will surfeit themselves if the food 

 be strong, such as liver or meat. A little ox or 

 sheep's liver w^ell boiled, and ground or grated as fine 

 as possible, should be scattered to them daily. The 

 smallest insects or midge flies thrown in the water, 

 they will rise to and take with avidity. Various other 

 matters are used for their subsistence, amongst which 

 I will notice one or two only, since almost any 



