FISH ACCLIMATISATION. 389 



freely, affords superb sport, and thrives best in just those waters 

 which are not suited to trout and salmon, viz., ponds, lakes, and 

 slow, deep streams. 



I have taken this fish both with fly and worm, and I am 

 convinced that weight for weight it has as much fight in it as 

 any fish. If you use a fly, it should be a gaudy one, and the 

 best plan is to sink it under water an inch or two, and draw it 

 along. 



As regards the pike-perch, I confess I have some doubt', 

 he is rather too voracious ; still he cannot be worse than the 

 pike in this respect, and he is certainly a more ' game ' fish, and 

 better eating. 



The question of acclimatisation of foreign Salmonidce. is 

 doubtless touched upon in the chapter on that subject, but I 

 am firmly of the opinion that no foreign waters can give us 

 better fish of this kind than our own. The American Salmo 

 fontinalis, or brook-trout, has been introduced freely into this 

 country, but it has proved an utter failure, except when kept in 

 confinement in ponds supplied by streams, and deep cold lakes. 

 It is not a trout at all, but a true char. Placed in our rivers it 

 will not breed, it rarely rises to the fly, and it gradually dis- 

 appears in fact, it is in no sense equal to our own Salmo far io, 

 or common trout, than which I do not believe there is a better 

 trout in the world. 



R. B. MARSTON. 



[In the above verdict it is probable that most fishermen and 

 owners of angling waters will concur ; and having thus been 

 introduced by Mr. Marston to the Black Bass as the one 

 foreign species which, under certain conditions, it is highly 

 desirable we should attempt to acclimatise, I am glad to be 

 able to supplement the information by the following notes on 

 the practical cultivation of the fish, which have been most 

 obligingly placed at my disposal for the present volume by 

 the Marquis of Exeter, President of the National Fish Culture 

 Association. H. C.-P.] 



