392 THE DRY-FLY MAN'S HANDBOOK 



occasionally a small quantity of ground greaves or of 

 the broken biscuit used for poultry food. In a 

 stew containing 500 yearlings, 14 lb. per week is the 

 maximum quantity which should be given, and in hot 

 weather this quantity should be greatly reduced. A 

 few of the largest of the fish, which would then be two- 

 year-olds, could be turned out the following spring, 

 and the remainder kept in the stew until they are 

 three-year-olds. 



In describing the stew I have referred to the 

 division set apart for wild unsizable fish which in the 

 ordinary way would be returned to the river. I have 

 adopted the plan of keeping a certain proportion of 

 the undersized trout caught in the latter part of the 

 season for this purpose. I take the greatest care to 

 select healthy, good-looking and good-conditioned 

 trout of about f lb., and when these are turned into 

 the stew they will, after a few days, feed well and 

 make the very best of wild fish for stocking in the 

 following spring. 



I am able, by the kind permission of the proprie- 

 tors and editor of that invalu- 

 The degeneration of the able paper, to give this and 

 chalk-stream trout. other extracts from articles 



written by me for the " Field." 



It must unfortunately be admitted by all who have 

 given careful consideration to the subject that the 

 trout of the south-country chalk-streams have gener- 

 ally deteriorated. They do not grow to the dimensions 

 of those we killed in bygone days, they do not rise as 



