the Residence of certain Fishes. 229 



to hybernate, he might find a dormitory in Loch Lomond or else- 

 where, to pass the chilling hours of a Highland winter. And the 

 change would be less than in the case of the land animals; since 

 there is not such a difference of temperature in the one case as in 

 the other. 



While on this subject, it will not be out of place to mention a 

 parallel object of economy, far less known than it merits, and 

 indeed little known out of Scotland, where it has been practised, 

 although in a very limited manner, for many years. This is the 

 preservation of sea fish in salt-water ponds. There are three of 

 these in Scotland ; one in Galloway, another in Fife, and the third 

 in Orkney. In these, even cod are known to live for many months, 

 and to increase in size, without any loss of quality, and without 

 any other food than that, imperceptible to us, which is brought by 

 the daily influx of the sea. In the pond in Galloway, some in- 

 dividual cod have been living for many years, so as to have be- 

 come tame, if such a word may be applied to a fish, feeding, like 

 hogs, out of a trough when introduced with a supply of food. 



This practice is so obvious an extension as it is an improvement of 

 the expedient of using well-boats, as to afford cause of surprise 

 that it has not been adopted by those who are interested. Motives 

 of interest in the proprietors would shortly become matter of ad- 

 vantage to the consumers ; and the unsteadiness of a fish-market, 

 no unimportant object of municipal attention, even in London, 

 would cease to be a subject of complaint, 



The Romans, who seem to have far exceeded us in all that 

 relates to eating, as they did in a few other matters, were well 

 acquainted with this practice ; and the history of their Vivaria has 

 descended to us, with much more that relates to their rural 

 economy, of which this formed a distinguished branch. Colu- 

 mella says., decidedly, that they transported the spawn of various 

 sea fishes to the different fresh-water lakes round Rome, " marinis 

 seminibus implebant," and that this was a regular trade with the 

 early agriculturists of the rustic Republic, before the rich and lux- 

 urious took the keeping of artificial Vivaria into their own 

 hands. He mentions the Mugil, which is probably our mul- 



