REARING. 49 



Mr. Edon, of the Buckland Museum, used to give 

 " blood -worms " from the mud of the Thames ; but 

 these are now very difficult to procure, very expensive, 

 and in many waters soon die ; and when dead give 

 forth a most sickening and offensive odour one, too, 

 that is likely enough to bring in its train a great loss 

 amongst the fry. 



Mr. Silk advises raw liver as best for the young 

 fishes, and there we agree for it is cheap, can be got 

 almost anywhere, and forms a most nutritious, palatable 

 food. The mode of preparation is as follows : A 

 Starrett's Patent American Meat Chopper should be 

 provided ; one can be purchased of the Manager 

 of the Cray Fishery. It should be fixed firmly 

 by clamps or screws to a stout bench or table, and 

 there kept for use, as it will be in daily requirement, at 

 any rate for some time. It consists of a fly-wheel, 

 actuated by a handle, which works a u walking " beam, 

 raising and lowering a broad knife, and at the same 

 time, by an ingenious mechanism, causing the revolu- 

 tion of the cylindrical metal vessel, with hard wood 

 bottom, in which the substance to be chopped is 

 contained. This vessel has water placed in it, and the 

 liver j the knife is then worked by the handle till the 

 liver is reduced to a fine pulp, almost impalpable. 

 This operation takes some time. When thoroughly 

 performed, the bolts at both ends of the walking-beam 

 are withdrawn, the knife is raised out of its place and 

 washed, the cylinder taken up from the iron which 

 acts as its central pivot, and its contents removed to 

 a box, which stands over an empty pail, the cylinder 

 is washed and dried until required again, when it is 

 replaced. The box to which the liver has been trans- 



D 



