SUITABLE FISH AND WATERS 



The perch is a very prolific fish, and will 

 thrive in ponds with a very small stream run- 

 ning into them, and in sluggish rivers. Other 

 coarse fish are as a rule easy to introduce into 

 a water. Though perch fry form excellent food 

 for trout, perch, and of course pike, should be 

 kept out of a trout water. 



The suitability of a water depends to a great 

 extent (as to its capacity of supporting a healthy 

 stock of fish) upon its having plenty of suitable 

 vegetation upon the banks. Therefore if the 

 banks are bare of vegetation, willows and alders, 

 as being quick growing and easily established 

 trees, should be freely planted upon the banks. 

 This fortunately is very easily done, for willow 

 and alder sticks cut and put into the ground 

 in the spring are pretty sure to do well. It is 

 needless to say that the moister spots should be 

 chosen for the willows, though they will do 

 well in suitable soil in comparatively dry places. 

 Besides giving shade and shelter to the fish, 

 which is always an important consideration, a con- 

 siderable quantity of food is bred upon trees and 

 shrubs at the water side. I have found as many 

 as eighteen caterpillars in the stomach of a trout 

 which I caught under an overhanging oak tree. 



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