APPENDIX. 



i. 



NATURAL FOOD OF TROUT. 



THE following, by Mr. Francis Francis, on the natural 

 food of trout in ponds, lakes, and streams, offers some valu- 

 able suggestions to those who have preserved waters : 



" There is not an insect or small reptile that inhabits the 

 soil beneath us, the air above us, or the waters around us, 

 that is not food for fishes in a greater or less degree. 

 Worms of all kinds, flies of all kinds, grubs and larvae 

 of all kinds, cockchafers, crickets, leeches, snails, humble- 

 bees, young birds, mice, rats, frogs, beetles, all serve the 

 turn of one fish or another, and so in turn help to produce 

 food for man. Black beetles, for example, often looked on 

 as a nuisance in houses, are caviare to the trout ; and I 

 have seen two or three trout devour a panful of them with 

 the greatest avidity. Nay, I have seen a wary old six- 

 pound stream trout, that had been tempted with every con- 

 ceivable variety of bait, succumb to the temptation of a 

 black beetle. Small frogs, just emerged from tadpole ism, 

 they rejoice in exceedingly; and I have even seen them 

 take young toads, though some do repudiate the taste on 

 the trout's part. Nothing living comes amiss, but doubt- 

 less some kinds of food agree with them far better than 

 others. But we know very little on this branch of the 



(231) 



