MONASTIC PISC ARIES. 91 



experiments as these last-named would be success ; although I 

 gather from a note of Dr. Bethune's, to his beautiful edition of 

 Walton, that he rather leans to the opinion that the various 

 species of this family were more capable of intermixture, and 

 more accustomed to interbreed, than I am disposed to credit. 



At all events, there would be great interest and entertain- 

 ment in the instituting such a series of experiments ; and the 

 result, whatever it should be, could not fail of importance. 



That those which I first mentioned are eminently practicable, 

 is not to be doubted ; and there is strong reason for believing 

 that this science was fully understood, and constantly practised, 

 like many other good things now forgotten, or, as we flatter 

 ourselves, recently discovered, by the monks of old. 



That Carp were introduced from the continent to England, 

 by the monks, is nearl}' certain ; this, however, could be accom- 

 plished without recourse to any artificial modes of producing or 

 raising the young hy. There are, however, many and powerful 

 reasons for believing that the Grayling [Thymallus VexiUifer), the 

 Charr {Salnio Umbla), the Gwyniad [Coregonus Fera), and perhaps, 

 also, the Vendace [Coregonus Villughbii), the Pollan {Coregonus 

 Pollan), and the Powan [Coregonus Lacepedei), were also intro- 

 duced by the same agency from foreign countries. This belief 

 is supported by the fact, that these fish exist only in isolated, 

 and often distant waters ; sometimes in only one of two neigh- 

 bouring rivers, whereof that which contains them is apparently 

 the least adapted to their habits ; but always in such waters as 

 had many or distinguished monastic institutions on their banks. 

 While England was Catholic, great attention was paid to the 

 raising and fattening the choicest varieties of fresh-water fish ; 



