212 THE TROUT 



have escaped, or when perhaps one or two fish of 

 larger size have been let loose amongst their small 

 cousins, and have pursued, possibly for some weeks, 

 their wicked cannibalistic career unnoticed and un- 

 checked. 



The python who swallowed his companion in the 

 'Zoo* died of indigestion. Like the villain in the 

 story, he came to a bad end. It is not so with the 

 cannibal trout. His digestion being sound and his 

 conscience tough, he seems to grow more fat and 

 prosperous with each murder he commits. His sleek 

 condition certainly does not suggest the downward 

 path, but rather the idea of living happily ever after- 

 wards, to enjoy the fruits of his hardened villainy. 

 This is unsatisfactory. But there is a moral. Don't 

 let it occur again ! Be very careful in future to have 

 tight screens. 



After the water has passed through several rearing- 

 ponds it is a very good plan to give it a breathing 

 space, by allowing it to ripple for some distance in 

 a shallow raceway, ' with many a silver waterbreak 

 above the golden gravel.' The raceway should be 

 shaded, and should contain no fish. By this means 

 the water is aerated, cooled, and purified before enter- 

 ing the next series of ponds. 



Shade is good for trout in all stages. In the early 



