112 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



taken from the very nearest brook. As an instance 

 how fish of an ordinary sort can be meliorated, we re- 

 fer our readers to the changes undergone in Compen- 

 sation Pond, alluded to in a former chapter. No one 

 now, examining the trout taken from this reservoir, 

 would conceive that they are all, or any of them, pro- 

 duced from those inhabiting Habbie's Howe or Glen- 

 corse Burn ; and yet this is assuredly the case, although 

 many of the pond trout have already acquired a reddish 

 tinge in the flesh, and, externally, are very different in- 

 deed from the variety found in the burn being thick, 

 clear, and thinly spotted, while the others are lank, 

 dirty, and covered with a great show of stars. This 

 metamorphosis is entirely owing to superior feeding, 

 the reservoir we allude to covering a large extent of 

 valley ground, and, among other places, an ancient 

 churchyard. 



Now, if what we state be the fact (and nothing is 

 easier for those who are sceptical than to make the ex- 

 periment), of how little necessity are the troublesome 

 methods in use to obtain a good stock of finely flavoured 

 trout, provided the pond for breeding and improving 

 be according to rule ! And, if otherwise, even the 

 goodliest fish in the universe must indubitably fall off. 



As to the arrangements to be pursued in the plan- 

 ning of a good trout preserve. Let the primary matter 

 be the choice of your ground, in which, should you be 

 exceedingly narrowed, and at a loss for "good materials, 

 then give up altogether the idea of a fish pond. If, 

 however, you can discern the qualities of soil and neigh- 

 bourhood recommended by us at the outset of this 

 chapter, and, besides these, are able to command a 

 small stream or brook, then set about and prepare your 

 ground, as follows : 



Choose from four to ten acres, less or more, of an 



