64 CHATS ON ANGLING. 



should be turned in each November for restocking, a few being added 

 for contingencies. 



As I have already stated, when rainbows grow into really big fish 

 — say over i\ lb. — they appear, in our British waters, to develop lazy, 

 bottom-feeding proclivities. It will be necessary, therefore, or at any 

 rate advisable, to take these fish out by using a bright salmon fly, 

 fished deep, or a minnow, fished as deep as the water will admit. 

 When the fish are first placed in their fresh home it is customary to 

 feed them with artificial food until they get accustomed to their 

 surroundings. For this purpose liver is often used, and it is quite an 

 amusing sight to see them " boil " when such food is distributed. It 

 is very doubtful whether it is wise to feed with such fat-producing 

 foods. Some authorities hold that fatty foods of any kind produce 

 disease of the liver and fatty degeneration, and condemn absolutely all 

 red meat. If this be so — and it appears to be not only probable, but 

 proved by expert experience — it is better to let the fish take care of 

 themselves and eschew all kinds of artificial food stuffs. 



When stocking, every care should be taken to see that when the 

 fish arrive they are placed as soon as possible where the water is most 

 lively and broken, so that they may, at the earliest practicable moment, 

 obtain the air they so much need after their journey. The water in 

 the cans should never be allowed to stagnate. One more precaution 

 is indispensable, viz., to see, by means of a thermometer, that the 

 temperature of the water in the stream or pond is the same as that in 

 the cans. If there should be any difference — and there will almost 

 certainly be — it can easily be adjusted by letting some water out of 

 the cans and substituting that of the stream. By doing this gradually 

 the fish will become acclimatised to the change. The cans on the cart, 

 meanwhile, should be agitated, and therefore aerated, by keeping the 

 cart on the move. Neglect of this will cause serious risk of loss. 

 Once safely deposited in their new home, the fish will speedily spread 

 over your whole water, even if all were put in at one spot. Perhaps 

 it is unnecessary to add that fish should never be handled when being 

 put into the water. A small fiat net will pick up any that may have 

 fallen on the ground during the change of water. It is surprising how 

 thoughtless many people are about handling and treating fish. Thus, 



