THE FISHERY. 497 



pool. Great have been the disputes as to whether the trout throw 

 up these gravel hills with their heads or with their tails : the head of 

 the fish, however, shows much abrasion. 



It was years before I could see the act of spawning performed with 

 my own eyes, as apparently it is quickly done, and then possibly most 

 commonly at night. 



However, one genial spring morning after a succession of cold 

 nights, the fish gratified me by allowing me to see the operation. I 

 then saw distinctly the male fish chasing the female on the spawn-bed, 

 and the fish turning up the gravel at the tail of the spawn-bed with 

 their noses. When all the spawning is finished, some of the male fish 

 remain for two or more months at the tail of the spawn-bed, and, as 

 they chase away all strangers, I believe that they are watchmen, playing 

 the same part in the protection of the ova as the pugnacious male 

 sticklebacks undoubtedly do with respect to their nests. 



The artificial breeding of fish, or Pisciculture, has been followed 

 more or less in this country for many years, and Mr. S. Gurney prac- 

 tised it on the Wandle at the Culvers. 



The French Government, however, have of late years given an impetus 

 to the industry, and Professor Coste, who had charge of the subject, used 

 a gridiron of glass rods to support the ova in earthen vessels, over which 

 he allowed a current of water to trickle. I first learnt his process at the 

 College of France in 1859, and was highly delighted with the result. 

 The Professor was so obliging as to 

 give me specimens of young salmon 

 and trout, which I brought to England, 

 together with one of his boxes, in order 

 that I might make known his process 

 and use it in my garden, whence it 

 has spread over the country. 



The apparatus is simple. It con- FIG. 1098. -Fish-tray. 



sists of an earthenware oblong box (fig. 1098) about four inches deep, 

 six inches wide, and fourteen inches long, with a little spout. Inside 

 this a wooden tray is supported about an inch below the surface ; the 



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