WATER POACHERS. 121 



ponds at Stormontfield, where, upon a heron 

 being shot, it disgorged more than fifty fry. 



One of the most curious enemies of British 

 fresh-water fishes is a small floating water-weed 

 the Bladderwort. Along its branches are a 

 number of small green vesicles or bladders, 

 which, being furnished with tiny jaws, seize upon 

 the tiny fishes, which are assimilated into its sub- 

 stance. This is a subtle poacher, the true cha- 

 racter of which has only lately been detected. 



When salmon and trout are upon the spawn- 

 ing-beds their senses seem to become dulled, and 

 they are more easily approached than at other 

 times. Although the otter is usually regarded as 

 an enemy, it may be that he plays a beneficial 

 part in the economy of nature. He certainly 

 destroys fewer fish than is generally supposed ; 

 and his presence near the spawning-beds in some 

 rivers is, to my certain knowledge, indirectly 

 beneficial to pisciculturists. He kills off the 

 slowest, weakest, and diseased fish, and therefore 

 helps to eradicate disease. 



The man poacher gets a large share of the 

 spawning fish. He obtains these in various ways 

 according to the approved local method. The 

 salmon offers a fair mark, and he spears it ; whilst 

 trout are taken in nets in enormous quantities. 

 But fish food taken in this way is insipid and 



