ON SMALLER PONDS. 175 



should be kept down by every possible means, and 

 the larger fish, particularly, sought out and killed by 

 any device that can be employed, or in a few years the 

 nice trout-lake will become a pike pond. The best 

 time to thin them out is at spawning time, when a 

 net, placed quietly round the shallow parts of the 

 lake, where weed and reed beds are, will secure any 

 quantity of the stock of the lake. The big ones can 

 then be taken out, and killed if not wanted, or sent 

 off to regular pike waters, where they will be welcome, 

 and the remaining stock regulated. For this purpose 

 the fisherman should commence his operations in the 

 early part or middle of April. 



In many of the lakes which salmon frequent, the 

 pike is a most destructive pest, as the time when the 

 salmon-smolts are passing down to the sea is a regular 

 jubilee with them, and myriads of fish ten times more 

 valuable than themselves are devoured by them. 

 Here they should be exterminated: it should be 

 " Guerra al Trimmer-o ! " " War to the Trimmer " 

 even. 1 In many of the ponds, canals, and reservoirs 

 of the midland counties, on the other hand, his pre- 

 sence is most welcome ; and as he already inhabits 

 most of these localities, little can be done for him but 

 to treat him fairly, and fish with moderation. The 



1 Not excepting spear, spade, spud, or anything else whatever. 



