at feeding. 



THE STEW. 157 



and reliable supply of horse flesh could be 

 procured, it was decided to keep a small 

 reserve of biscuits in case of accident, and 

 try the experiment of feeding on liver and 

 lights, delivered twice a week by the local 

 butcher. An inexpensive hand machine for 

 mincing the food had already been fastened to 

 a well-secured table in the shed at the upper 

 end of the stew, and it was with feelings of 

 some anxiety that the first experiments of 

 feeding the young trout were made. 



A small quantity of the liver and lights First attempt 

 having been minced up, and the trap-door in 

 the floor of the shed over the water having 

 been opened, while the door of the shed itself 

 was kept closed so as not to admit an 

 undue quantity of light, the head keeper com- 

 menced quietly dropping a little of the finely 

 minced food into the water. He was alone in 

 the shed, and took care to keep as still as 

 possible. These precautions were taken because 

 it is found that yearlings, after being moved 

 into fresh quarters, whether from the jolting 

 on their journey or fright at the strangeness 

 of their new surroundings, are occasionally so 

 scared as to refuse food, and quickly go back in 

 condition. With wild fish this would not be 

 altogether surprising, but with yearlings hatched 

 artificially, and reared in ponds where from the 



