RED MULLET. 5 



periment have proved. At the Southport Aquarium, 

 under Mr. C. L. Jackson, experiments are being con- 

 ducted which will make us better acquainted with the 

 life-history of another valuable food-fish, the salmon- 

 trout. 



Although artificial contrivances for preserving fish 

 alive have undoubtedly been in vogue for many 

 centuries, aquaria, in the sense in which we under- 

 stand the word, are peculiarly modern. The ancient 

 Romans paid as great attention to their fish-ponds as 

 wealthy gentlemen, of horticultural tastes, now do to 

 their orchid and fern houses. No expense seems to 

 have been spared in making these fish-ponds as large 

 and attractive as possible, or in obtaining valuable and 

 beautiful fish for stocking them. Amongst others, the 

 red mullet (Mullus barbatus ?) appears to have been 

 the greatest favourite. It was kept in the ponds for 

 the sake of its beauty, and was usually brought to the 

 table alive, so that the assembled guests could indulge 

 in the pleasure of witnessing the rapidly changing 

 prismatic tints which the fish assumed whilst dying. 

 Not unfrequently canals led from the fish-ponds into 

 the banqueting hall. The red mullet, when it attained 

 a large size, was of great value ; one of four pounds 

 and a half fetching a sum equal to 6o/. sterling. These 

 mullets are immortalised by the price that was given 

 for them in the reign of Caligula, about 24O/. Pliny 

 relates that the fish-pond of one of the Roman patri- 

 cians (C. Herius) was sold for a sum amounting 



