The Breeding of Crevis. 47 



CRAYFISH CULTURE. 



Another interesting bit of fish culture 

 is given under the heading " The breed- 

 ing of Crevis." Our author says : 



"The fresh water Crevis, commonly 

 lives and lyes in bankes and holes in 

 rivers and brookes, and they are a hole- 

 some fish for all sick and weake persons, 

 They will cast their spawne in the Spring 

 about the moneth of May, and will shed 

 it on stones, and weedes in the bottome, 

 whereof most is eaten up with yeeles and 

 water rats, as some suppose. 



" Therefore it were not vnmeete to make 

 fagots of hole straw to save the spawne as 

 aforesaide. Also they will soone be driven 

 with floods downe the streame, in few 

 yeares they will greatly increase, if they be 

 not taken with mens handes, and kild with 

 Rats, for they will lie in holes and under 

 stones, and weedes, and so are soone taken : 

 for they cannot flie fast away. If they 

 be taken in May it will be a great spoyle 

 in their increase, for commonly they then 

 doe shed their spawne. The Water-rat is 

 also a great devourer of them lying in 

 holes : and where many rats are, they 

 cannot lightly prosper or increase there. 



"Thus much for the fresh water ' Crevis/ 

 Ye may store any brooke or river with 



