152 SEASON 1874-75. 



when the fry have just been turned out, is very apt, after two or 

 three days' hard blow, to cause fungus on the fry in the ponds 

 exposed to it, while at Craigend, where the ponds run across the 

 wind, fungus is unknown. Even at Howietoun, in the ponds 

 parallel to the two (Nos. 22 and 23) that catch the wind, very 

 little fungus is ever seen, the high bank of the island pond 

 (No. 13) sheltering them to some extent. 



The east wind seems to affect fish in some as yet unknown 

 manner. I have noticed fontinalis, especially in spring, and when 

 well fed, sicken after a few days of east wind, and often become 

 fungussy, even when in deep ponds running north and south. 



Fontinalis are very delicate fish in some waters. They do not 

 stand rapid changes of temperature, and this is the more remark- 

 able as they can stand a great range of temperature without 

 apparent difficulty. No doubt, like all other char, they prefer deep 

 lakes, or rivers running out of deep lakes, or streams much shaded 

 by trees, where the changes of temperature are gradual. If this is 

 so, we need look no further for their rapid disappearance before 

 civilisation in America, and that nation, wise in fish-culture, will 

 soon fill their streams with trout already accustomed through 

 centuries to the interference of man,- not trout imported from 

 the forest streams of Norway or the mountain lakes of Switzer- 

 land, but good, honest British trout, who a hundred generations 

 ago made acquaintance with mill-weirs and sunny streams. Civi- 

 lisation must breed its trout as it has its cattle, or civilisation will 

 have no trout. Where would Bos primigenius find a representative 

 in England had cattle not been domesticated through thousands of 

 generations ? Trout are not yet so highly specialised as cattle, and 

 may in a few generations be moulded to the requirements of man. 

 Here is a great future, yet so present that every wise pisciculturist 

 will consider it before he selects his locality for his ponds. In 

 considering the location of ponds, the side of a slope should be 

 selected, the more gradual the better, so that the old drainage 

 level is not interfered with. At Howietoun the old course of the 

 burn is cut across by the lowest ponds (Nos. 13 and 14), but 

 their banks are sufficiently high to prevent any danger, No. 13 



