THE CULTIVATION OF COARSE FISH. 385 



matter. Kitchen refuse forms very fattening food for carp. 

 To rear carp with the greatest success the parent fish should 

 be placed in a suitable pond in which there are no other 

 fish ; after spawning the parent fish should be netted out, 

 and in the autumn, under suitable conditions, there will be 

 an immense crop of young carp from two to three inches in 

 length. The carp is a powerful fish affording great sport to 

 the angler, and its cultivation might be most profitably carried 

 on in England, as the Jews will always give a high price for live 

 carp. In fact, before the advent of Protestantism in England 

 fish stews for the natural propagation of carp and other fish 

 were very common. It is the custom in Germany to drain a 

 pond every third year or so, let it dry, and plant oats in the 

 ground ; a heavy crop is the result, and the water being turned 

 in again, the fish thrive wonderfully. 



The Tench is another powerful and handsome pond fish 

 which would well repay cultivation. It prefers stagnant and 

 weedy waters. Like the carp and eel it buries itself in the mud 

 in the cold months. Its food consists of larvae, water plants, 

 and worms. Like carp and all other muddy-flavoured fish, it 

 eats well, and loses the muddy flavour if kept for a time in clear 

 running water. If. spawns from May to July on water plants, 

 and the young fish hatch out in a week or ten days. The 

 golden tench can also be easily bred in ponds. 



The Gudgeon, Minnow, and Bullhead spawn from May to 

 July, selecting very shallow streams, and depositing their eggs 

 on the gravel and stones. These fish all form admirable food 

 for SalinonidcE, and can be easily cultivated in any small clear 

 stream. The male bullhead makes a sort of nest in the sand 

 under stones, and, like the stickleback, drives away every 

 intruder. 



The Roach, Ritdd, and Bream spawn in May or early in 

 June on water weeds ; the eggs hatch out in a week or ten days. 



The Chub spawns at the end of April or beginning of May, 

 on shallow sandy or gravelly places, and the eggs hatch out in 

 a very short time. 



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