222 THE TROUT 



believers of the Darwinian doctrine of the survival of 

 the fittest. 



Take pains, then, in feeding to distribute the food, 

 and to see that any weaklings near the outlet-screen 

 receive special attention. And this brings me to one 

 of the most serious objections to automatic feeding 

 machines. They go on discharging food regularly 

 enough ; but all of it in one place. The stronger fish 

 therefore collect round the feeder and prevent the 

 others from getting a proper share. 



Six or seven times a day is not too often to feed 

 the fish in the ponds at first. Gradually, however, as 

 the fish grow larger, their meals are less frequent, and 

 the zinc of the sieve and also of the feeder are once 

 more changed, to suit bigger mouths and stronger 

 digestions. 



A change of diet will now soon be necessary. 

 Food of a more solid and sustaining character is 

 beginning to be required. Sheep's plucks and horse- 

 flesh are probably the best foods available for your 

 purpose. Having first been well boiled, the meat 

 must be finely minced. 



The illustration (fig. 18) is of an excellent 

 American mincing-machine, made by the ' Enterprise ' 

 Company of Philadelphia. It would be difficult to 

 find a machine better adapted to your purpose, 



