Artfitlness and Art 45 



monger, and the tiny ova just suited the wee fish. As 

 they got larger they required other food, which was 

 supplied by getting caddis from the Thames, flies, tiny 

 worms, and, as they grew still bigger, very young fish 

 of various descriptions. At one time we got a quantity 

 of perch spawn from the river, which was duly hatched 

 out in a " gold-fish " bowl ; and the perch-fry was then 

 given to the trout. It was a noteworthy circumstance 

 that after they had gorged themselves on flies, until 

 their little bodies resembled those of well-fed city 

 aldermen, they would still manage to stow away some 

 caddis ; and then, when they looked as if they must 

 burst if they swallowed anything more, they would yet 

 chase and manage to get down a tiny perch or minnow. 

 If, however, the diet was reversed, and the dinner began 

 with fish, as soon as they had had enough of them they 

 would look at no other kind of food. It was an in- 

 structive lesson, that I have since often turned to good 

 account. JSTeville took the " survivors of the fittest " 

 home with him, and turned them into a pond. The 

 next summer the pond was netted to see how they 

 had progressed, and our " monster " of the fern-case 

 had grown into a goodly trout, nearly one and a half 

 pounds in weight. 



I once saw a magnificent trout caught by a gentleman 

 on the bank of the river, opposite " Middle Club " in the 

 playing fields. We were only practising cricket, and all 

 stopped to watch the contest between man and fish. He 

 landed it at last, and very kindly brought it over in the 

 well of the punt, that we might see it. It weighed 

 between 8 lb. and 9 lb., and was caught on a red palmer. 

 It does seem a shame that so many magnificent trout are 



