104 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



CHAPTER XII. 



ON THE RAISING OF FISH AND CONSTRUCTION 

 OF FISH PONDS IN SCOTLAND. 



THE observations introduced into our initiatory chap- 

 ters on Scottish rivers and lochs, with regard to the 

 soils best calculated for the breeding of good trout, will 

 apply, not without reason, to our present remarks. In 

 these we have shown, that a constant and plentiful 

 provision is essential to the growth and increase of fish, 

 and that certain dispositions of channel, or bottom, will 

 furnish, more readily than others, the various kinds of 

 sustenance required. Now, in treating of the construc- 

 tion of artificial ponds, whether intended for the rais- 

 ing or fattening of fish, we hold it to be of primary 

 consequence, that some means be taken to secure a 

 steady supply of food, otherwise the object of the ex- 

 perimentalist is defeated at its very outset. 



To do this successfully must depend very much upon 

 the natural conveniences of soil and situation. No one 

 can rationally expect to find worms and insects under 

 a dry, poor earth, or flies in any plenty apart from 

 shrubs and trees. Undoubtedly those places which 

 are, to a certain extent, fertile, and in the neighbour- 

 hood of wood, also mosses and moor ground, arising as 

 they do from vegetable decay, are to be preferred be- 

 fore arid and unproductive lands for this purpose. 



The most natural and effective situations, however, 

 are small valleys and glens, pervaded by rivulets, and 

 exposed in some degree to the sun. By throwing a 

 strong bank across the lower part, or entrance, these 



