480 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK 



After the fish are removed to larger ponds, there is no doubt 

 that rye, after being thoroughly soaked or steamed, and then 

 rolled in blood which should be allowed to dry on the 

 grains before they have time to become hard would be a desir- 

 able article of food to be given with the crumbled fibre of 

 meat. 



Any substance of which albumen forms a principal con- 

 stituent promotes the growth .of fish ; the white of eggs 

 would, therefore, be appropriate food. Trout kept in spring- 

 houses grow to an immense size when fed on nothing else 

 than curds. 



The liver or heart of a sheep or ox, hung over a pond, 

 will produce the larva of the common fly, which will fall into 

 the pond, and furnish a more natural food than meat. 



With these hints on feeding, the reader who is not already 

 better informed, cannot fail, by observation and ingenuity, to 

 raise young fish, after placing them in ponds larger than 

 those already suggested. 



Ponds covering a half-acre and upwards, will afford a large 

 amount of natural food after the first or second year, if 

 judiciously supplied with aquatic plants, brush, logs, &c. ; 

 nevertheless, feeding as we have suggested will greatly pro- 

 mote the growth of the fish. It is desirable, for many reasons, 

 to have the ponds well shaded. Smaller species of fish, as 

 Shiners, Roach, Minnows, &c., may be advantageously intro- 

 duced, but not in ponds where Trout are intended to breed, 

 as they devour a large proportion of their ova. These small 

 worthless species furnish a considerable proportion of food 

 for large Trout in their natural haunts. 



In connection with this subject I should not omit to men- 

 tion that there have been numerous instances of stocking 

 streams in England, Scotland, and Ireland, which had become 

 barren or depopulated by improvident fishing and poaching. 



