382 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



THE BREEDING-HURDLE. 



Another, and in some respects even more simple contrivance 

 for breeding these fish, is the breeding-hurdle. It consists of 

 an ordinary hurdle, on which branches have been intertwined ; 

 it is sunk in a pond, lake, or stream, in any shallow undisturbed 

 spot, and the fish find it a convenient place on which to cast 

 their spawn, which can then be taken out and transferred to 

 other waters, or left to hatch out. It is chiefly advantageous 

 where natural spawning places are deficient, and is used to a 

 considerable extent in France and Sweden. 



POND CULTIVATION. 



Where some primary expense is not a matter of considera- 

 tion, the pond system, which is carried on to such an enormous 

 extent on the Continent, is the best and most satisfactory 

 of all. 



It is the intention of the National Fish Culture Association 

 to establish a coarse fish farm in connection with their fish 

 culture establishment at South Kensington, for the purpose of 

 hatching and rearing fry of all kinds in large quantities, for 

 distribution to angling clubs and private individuals requiring 

 these fish.' 



The ponds, and the amount of water passing through them, 

 should of course be adapted to the nature of the fish to be 

 reared in them, and only one kind of fish, or fish similar in 

 their habits, should be bred in a pond. As an instance of 

 what may be accomplished with coarse fish in this way, I may 

 mention that last spring Herr Max von dem Borne, the well- 

 known German pisciculturist, placed about five hundred carp 

 (spawners and milters) in one of his ponds, and in the autumn, 



1 The Association has taken the Delaford Fishery on the Colne, near West 

 Drayton, and under the energetic supervision of the secretary, Mr. W. Oldham 

 Chambers, a perfect system of ponds is being made. — R. B. M. 



