278 OUT OF DOORS. 



and begin to feel the want of food. This food they will 

 then find for themselves. The sharp-eyed little 

 creatures can see and capture the myriad tiny inhabi- 

 tants of the water which are too minute to be detected 

 by the human eye, and when they get a little stronger 

 may be seen jumping at midges with wonderful bold- 

 ness and activity. 



Their peculiar habits are a sufficient guide to their 

 owner as to the time when they are fit to enter the 

 river and be turned loose on existence, for they drop 

 down from box to box according to their development, 

 and those that are found in the lowest box are always 

 strong enough to be removed. 



It should be mentioned that gratings of perforated 

 zinc form an impassable obstacle to the escape of the 

 young fish or the entrance of obnoxious intruders, while 

 covers of the same substance are fastened over them at 

 night, and are replaced in the daytime by strong 

 netting. The object of this change is twofold : firstly, 

 that the midges and other little insects on which the 

 fish feed should have free admission to the surface of 

 the water ; and, secondly, that the inmates should be 

 guarded from various predatory birds, kingfishers 

 especially, who would hold high revel over so plentiful 

 and delicate a banquet. 



When the fry have attained a moderate size they 

 are removed from the lowest box, placed in a proper 

 water vessel, and transferred to a boat. The owner 

 rows gently about the river, and wherever he sees a 



