THE NEW ART OF BREEDING FISH. 181 



the year, and, when these duties have been fully and 

 conscientiously discharged, they have no other reward 

 than the satisfaction that they have acted as good, 

 citizens, and have merited the ajjprobation of the 

 public. However, it sometimes happens that one of 

 these proprietors is not over scrupulous. He will 

 take fish out of season, either with rod or net. He 

 will spear the spawning salmon for the sake of the 

 roe, and make a profit by selling it to the retailers 

 of fishing tackle, who dispose of this tempting lure 

 in large quantities to ambitious anglers. Perhaps 

 John Graball gets to hear of this illicit traffic, and 

 pays a visit to the unlicensed poacher, and threatens 

 with information and fine, or possibly with imprison- 

 ment, if the money be not forthcoming. Our friend, 

 however, does not let Mr. Graball have all the talk 

 to himself. We may suppose him making some such 

 answer as this : — " I'll tell you what, Mr. Graball, 

 if we come to balance accounts fairly between you 

 and me in the matter of these fish, you have the 

 best of the bargain by long odds. You only own 

 about half a mile of the river, and yet you contrive 

 to get a profit of £500 or £1,000 a year out of it. 

 You never breed a fish. All yours is deep water, 

 without a yard of, breeding ground in it. You never 

 feed a fish, for they all come out of the sea ready 

 fed, and ready fattened to your hand. Now, look at 

 me. I have five miles of water running through my 

 estate, and brooks and rivulets without number. 

 From November to January my waters are crowded 



