COAESE FISH 



that is to say, in proportion to their size. In 

 stocking a water which contains no fish, the 

 amateur may wish to hurry on the process of 

 nature in the case of coarse fish; and, fortun- 

 ately, this is fairly easily managed. In the case 

 of perch, rudd, pike, and carp, but little change 

 of water is required to hatch out the eggs. The 

 eggs of these fish take but a short time to hatch ; 

 and if they are protected, and this protection is 

 also given to the little fish for a few weeks, it 

 will generally be found that an amply sufficient 

 result is obtained. The eggs should be spread 

 out carefully on wicker - work or the lids of 

 baskets and kept in the light. A trickle of 

 water which is sufficient to change the body of 

 water in the pond in which the ova are put will, 

 as a rule, be enough. The amateur must be 

 careful that the pond in which he hatches the 

 eggs does not contain any of the many enemies 

 I have described in former chapters. If it is at 

 all possible to protect the eggs and the little 

 fish, it is best to hatch out the eggs in the pond 

 which it is intended to stock, for it is exceed- 

 ingly difficult to keep the newly-hatched fish in 

 a rearing-pond on account of their very small 

 size. It will be necessary to use muslin or 



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