78 DOMESTICATED TROUT. 



plants,* which will improve the water and give the 

 fish a chance to hide from their enemies, and supply 

 them with a good deal of natural food. 



The ponds should be also well provided with covers 

 or rafts for shelter. 



Even then I would have the ponds constructed on 

 the principle of rearing-boxes, but I wish it distinctly 

 understood only for very young fry. I am myself in 

 favor of turning the fish into safe ponds after they are 

 two or three months old, but not before. 



They are so small and frail at first, that it seems to 

 me no better than destroying them by wilful neglect 

 to turn them loose into ponds when they begin to feed. 



* See Appendix III , pp. 274, 275, for list of water-plants. 



