io MAKING A FISHERY. 



given is due to a resemblance in its growth to 

 that of the ordinary vegetable of the same 

 name. It flourishes in shallow water where 

 there is a fair or strong stream, and roots into 

 the fine gravel. On examining a handful the 

 tyro will be astonished at the abundance of 

 animal life contained therein. It is pre- 

 eminently the form of vegetation to be desired 

 where trout run large and the stock is heavy. 



Next to the " celery," perhaps the best food- 

 producing weed is the Water Starwort {Calli- 

 triche aquatica), one of the most elegant of all the 

 water weeds, and also one which grows in rapid 

 water, and roots in the gravel. The Water 

 Crowfoot {Ranunculus aquatilis), which is 

 supposed in a degree to resemble the foliage 

 of the carrot, contains a fair proportion of the 

 larvae, &c. ; but it too often overgrows a 

 stream and crowds out the celery. Some 

 species of the genus Potamogeton are also 

 favourable to the increase of animal life, 

 especially as they are said to contain an 

 abnormally large percentage of nitrogen. 



The American weed {Elodea canadense) is 

 comparatively useless. At one time it was ex- 

 pected to ruin rivers in which it had been intro- 

 duced, owing to its rapid and luxuriant growth. 

 It has, however, after some years invariably 

 diminished, and in a few instances disappeared 



