PREFACE. vii 



to " raise," as the Americans say, ought to be 

 food within the reach of the very poorest, and 

 it is therefore only by enlarging on the expenses 

 of its capture that a colourable excuse is given 

 for its present price. If, therefore, good fish 

 can be had in large quantities without any out- 

 lay of capital for fishing gear, and without any 

 of the dangers which deep-sea fishermen have 

 to face, there might surely be found landlords, 

 both philanthropic and shrewd, who would 

 turn their attention to the question, and make 

 use of their ponds and lakes for the benefit 

 both of their own empty pockets and of the 

 emptier stomachs of their poorer brethren. 



It was in the hope of fixing further attention 

 on this neglected wealth of English waters, that 

 a series of articles was undertaken during the 



