l8o WINTER ANGLING 



of an inch in diameter are placed ; they may grad- 

 uate, of course, to lesser sizes. Thereafter follows 

 a layer of at least an inch and a half of smaller 

 stones, the limit of size being a pea, and the min- 

 imum being a mustard seed. Next a layer of 

 wood charcoal, broken up into small pieces ; next 

 a layer of sand, well washed before using, and 

 finally a piece of coarse muslin. Another piece 

 of sponge may be placed at the top to break the 

 fall of the water from the cistern. Here, there- 

 fore, is a splendidly efficient filter, which will, 

 however, I must say, require cleaning out occa- 

 sionally, more or less frequently, in fact, according 

 to the purity or impurity of the water. In view 

 of this, perhaps it is well to make two or three 

 others at the same time, so that the fish may 

 never have impure water. 



The stream of water is now assured, and its 

 purity certain. The next concern, of course, is 

 the troughs or tanks in which the eggs are to be 

 kept and matured into life. These are constructed 

 of various materials, and so used by the professed 

 fish culturist, slate, glass, earthenware, and wood 

 being chiefly in requisition. For the present 

 purpose wood is quite good enough. Let me 



