Salt to Fresh Water. 239 



cessary, as our domestic animals are ; but that if sufficient numbers 

 and kinds are placed together, they feed each other without re- 

 quiring further care. 



It is further observed, that every, or almost every species, im- 

 proves in flavour and quality, as oysters are known to do under 

 transplantation. 



It is well known that, of all the fish brought to market, a very 

 small proportion is in good condition, the rest being apparently 

 ill fed ; and hence the number of bad fish so well known to fish- 

 mongers. 



It is much better known that, from bad weather, or other causes, 

 the supply of the market is very irregular. Thus the public suf- 

 fers when the supply is short, and the merchant when there is a 

 glut. It is not uncommon for a glut to come in London when the 

 town is empty; and, on the contrary, for it to want fish when full. 



The proposed plan, if executed, would bring the fish within our 

 own. power, to be taken alive when wanted, and, from being better 

 fed, in greater perfection and more uniformly good. It would be 

 like taking stalled oxen, instead of wild Scotch cattle. It would 

 also enable the merchants to regulate the supply by the demand, 

 and thus to satisfy better the public and themselves. The trade 

 would be steady instead of precarious ; as the prices to the public 

 would also be. It would be conducted, directly, between the pub- 

 lic and the grower, or with the intervention of one retailer only, 

 and thus a heavy cause of complaint be removed. Lastly, the 

 public would be always sure of fish, and it would be sure of them 

 at moderate prices. 



Such are the proposed advantages. As far as the species that 

 breed in such confinement, the fish would reproduce themselves, 

 or a pond of this nature would resemble a common fish-pond. 

 For those that will not, if there are any such, the ponds 

 would be mere repositories for keeping alive, till there was a de- 

 mand, the fish brought into them from the sea. They would also 

 be feeding places, allowing bad fish to improve. Thus far, the 

 fisheries would go on as before, and the fishing-trade would con- 

 sequently not be injured. It would be increased, on the contrary ; 



