106 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



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which obtained one of the Highland Society's prizes, 

 it is stated, that in some ponds belonging to Mr Fer- 

 gusson of Pitfour, in Aberdeenshire, the tench thrives 

 well ; and the carp, although not very prolific, breeds. 

 This is owing, we imagine, to a particular softness in 

 the quality of the water where these fish exist : in fact, 

 it is allowed by Mr Whyte, in allusion to the carp 

 ponds, that they are wholly kept up by rain water a 

 very different fluid from the hard springs which natu- 

 rally supply our preserves. 



It comes to this, that the 6nly fish we possess, ca- 

 pable of being bred and fattened in artificial ponds to 

 any extent, are the trout, the pike, and the perch, along, 

 of course, with eels and minnows ; the former of which, 

 namely, the eels, strange as it may appear, would al- 

 most seem to be produced spontaneously, or from the 

 soil itself. We were lately present at the cleansing of 

 an artificial pond at Powderhall, close to Edinburgh, 

 which pond was constructed several years ago, and 

 stocked only with perch, and a few trout ; yet, although 

 it possessed no connection with any other water where 

 eels were, we witnessed the capture of numbers of these 

 animals, thrown up by the spades of the workmen. No 

 eel had ever been placed in the pond, and such as were 

 found there must either have travelled some distance 

 overland, or else have sprung up of their own accord. 

 The latter is assuredly an unphilosophical idea, and 

 we leave scientific men to clear up the mystery. At 

 all events, it may be put to those who have opportu- 

 nities of judging, if such instances as this are not com- 

 mon, incredible as they may seem to others. It is ne- 

 cessary, however, we maintain, that springs should ex- 

 ist in the ponds. 



A good deal of interesting discussion has taken place 

 among naturalists with regard to the generation of eels 



