128 A FEROCIOUS FISH. [CHAP. in. 



as a means of supply to our tables, it may more than balance 

 its value in this way by the immense destruction of fish which 

 is needed for its support. It is said that the silurus, when the 

 prey is plentiful, will attain over fifty-six pounds in four years ; 

 and Englishmen who have tasted it report that in flavour it 

 is superior to the salmon. Specimens of the wels have been 

 brought alive from a distance of nearly two thousand miles 

 to the station of the society at Twickenham by the exertions 

 of Sir Stephen Lakeman and Mr. Lowe, a gentleman who 

 takes a great interest in all questions of natural science. In all, 

 fourteen of these young fish were brought from Kapochien, 

 in Wallachia, where Sir Stephen Lakeman has an estate. 

 The Argich river, which flows past there, abounds in these 

 and other valuable fish, which are found more or less through- 

 out central Europe and in Scandinavia. In the Danube and 

 many of its tributaries the number is abundant ; and in those 

 wide waters the Silurus glanis is said to reach the enormous 

 weight of three hundred pounds. 



