468 SALMON AND TROUT. 



nuisance will continue so long as large ponds at the head or by 

 the side of the river contain them. There is no keeping them 

 back by fences, and frequently no attempt to do so ; the effect 

 being, very often, that the best part of the river is occupied by 

 pike, instead of containing a good stock of trout. Netting the 

 ditches by the side of the river at spawning time is a good way 

 of helping to exterminate these depredators. 



ON STOCKING. 



A pisciculturist is frequently asked which is the best kind 

 of trout to stock a certain piece of water. The question can- 

 not be decided without actual experiment, but a tolerably good 

 inference may be drawn by comparison of the particular water 

 with other in the same neighbourhood. 



Yearling fish should be introduced when the stock in the 

 water has become low ; it is generally a waste of valuable fish- 

 life to turn * fry ' into a stream or lake which already contains 

 some trout ; if there are small tributary streams on the same 

 property leading into the main water, the stock may be re- 

 plenished year by year with ' fry,' or even ova ; but as there 

 would always be considerable loss, very large numbers must be 

 introduced, and the tributaries must be well fenced (which is 

 always a difficulty), so as to prevent the little fish from getting 

 out, and any larger fish from getting in ; otherwise good results 

 will seldom follow. The largest fish obtainable should be pro- 

 cured ; the first expense being perhaps greater, but proving in 

 the end less, and a greater security from cannibalism. Well- 

 fed yearlings should run from four to seven inches in length, 

 some may be even more, and these are to a greater extent capable 

 of ' holding their own ' against larger fish than the small-sized 

 yearlings bred in some waters, and are therefore worth much 

 more money. 



Salmo Fario (English brook trout) must take the precedence 

 of all the other varieties, as it is the indigenous fish to most 



