FUNGUS-AMBIDEXTERITY. 109 



of iron ships from the barnacles, etc. The fungus, 

 according to Mr. L. Stone, is in itself harmless, but it 

 sometimes contains worm-like parasites of microscopic 

 character. These harbour themselves in that portion of the 

 fungus near the skin of the trout, and are continually eating 

 into the tissue of the fish. The mouths of these worms 

 are armed with tentacles, with which they can adhere to any 

 portion of the trout's skin which may be unprotected by slime. 

 If the worms be killed by salt solution, the fungus then 

 disappears. If, however, any portion of the living and malig- 

 nant fungus be returned to the water, it will carry a per- 

 centage of these deadly and contagious worms, and hence 

 the necessity of its absolute destruction for the benefit of 

 the healthy trout in the same stream. Mr. Thos. Clinker, 

 the manager of the Itchen Trout Breeding Establishment, 

 considers that there are two kinds of fungus, the one malignant 

 and epidemic, and recurrent in places where the surroundings 

 are unhealthy and water supply feeble ; the other universal 

 but comparatively harmless. I quite agree with this view, 

 the real harm being due to the parasitical worms, which may, 

 or may not, exist in the ordinary fungus. The bare places 

 caused by the fry nibbling one another are an ever present 

 source of danger to these small fish. 



AMBIDEXTERITY. 



The student should be able to use either hand when 

 manipulating his rod, reel, or landing-net. There is 



