A LESSON IN FISH CULTURE. 43 



and avoid the failures and mistakes made by 

 those who were obliged to learn by hard study and 

 experience. When I first began practical fish cul- 

 ture, I had but very little of this literature to guide 

 me, and consequently it often took me considerable 

 time to work out problems which now appear very 

 simple. 



After you have informed yourself about the neces- 

 sary requirement for success, commence by obtain- 

 ing a few spawn or fish, and make your first experi- 

 ments in a small way. Although you may be well 

 versed theoretically, you will find, in attempting 

 to make an actual application of your knowledge, 

 that you will meet with obstacles you did not 

 dream of before ; in other words, you must edu- 

 cate your hands as well as your head to do 

 the work. 



Commence in a small way, and conduct your first 

 experiments as cheaply as possible. "But why?" 

 you may say. " I have read up thoroughly on the 

 subject, and the path seems clear enough. Why 

 let a year go by without doing work, that will 

 amount to something ?" My friend, could you rea- 

 sonably expect to read how to make a clock, or any 

 other piece of machinery, and then sit down and 

 make it ? There are, undoubtedly, geniuses who 

 are able to do this, but they are the exception, and 

 not the rule. The chances are even, that you will 

 make some fatal mistake the first season, and your 

 experience will be just as valuable, and not nearly 

 so expensive, if you start on a small scale. A great 

 deal can be learned by visiting some establishment 

 which is in successful operation, and the observa- 



