REARING 221 



share of the food the long-handled feeder must be 

 worked, at intervals of a few feet, along the whole 

 length of the pond at each feeding. Should you 

 neglect this essential point, the more robust fish, 

 generally to be found congregating round the inlet, will 

 get the lion's share, and their weaker brethren, as in 

 the outside world, will go to the wall. The former, 

 taking advantage of their increased bulk and strength, 

 will assume bullying and tyrannical ways, making it a 

 difficult matter for their less fortunate companions to 

 get a due share of nourishment. The result of this 

 tyranny, if not counteracted, is that eventually the 

 disparity of size becomes such that cannibalistic 

 proclivities assert themselves and you will have the 

 mortification of seeing one of your most forward and 

 promising pupils swimming about with the tail of his 

 murdered little sister sticking out of his mouth. 



You will now understand that if you wish to think 

 kindly of the dispositions of your small fry you must 

 not expect too much of them. ' Drink fair,' was as 

 we know the unwritten law of the gin bottle among 

 the friends of Mrs. Gamp. But among trout there is 

 no pretence of wishing to ' eat fair.' Beauty of form 

 and elegance of movement are theirs ; but not the 

 higher graces of character and conduct. It is their 

 rule that the weakest go to the wall, for they are firm 



