CHAPTER IV. 



WEEDS. 



Weeds as 

 affecting food 

 supply. 



HE proper management of the weeds 

 in the river is so important a question 

 that no apology is necessary for 

 devoting an entire chapter to the consideration 

 of the subject. Under the heading of " Selec- 

 tion," attention has already been directed to the 

 fact that the food supply is largely dependent 

 on the presence of the weeds on which the 

 shrimps, snails, caddis, and other larvae 

 habitually live. Obviously, the size and condi- 

 tion of the fish being dependent on the food 

 supply, it may be taken for granted that the 

 more abundant the crop of suitable weeds in 

 any stream, the greater will be the probability 

 of a plentiful stock of well-grown and large 

 trout and grayling. On the comparative 

 suitability of various species of aquatic plants, 

 I have treated briefly in a previous chapter. 

 Every effort should be made to encourage 



