ON LAKES, POOLS, ETC. 179 



must have been effected ly means of the spawn, as it 

 could not be transported even a few miles alive, being 

 of so delicate a nature. It is a very delicious fisb, 

 somewhat ia flavour like to the smelt. Dr. Knox, 

 however, speaks of it as a moderately good fish to eat : 

 Dr. Knox may have eaten it under unfavourable 

 circumstances. Of course, it is desirable that a fish 

 so much ia request as this appears to be should be 

 more widely difiPased ; and I should think that, by 

 means of artificial breeding, it might not be difficult 

 to extend its range. But a judicious choice of the 

 lake to be stocked should be made, and I imagine 

 that those lakes which support its coarser and less 

 desirable congener, the Gwyniad, might well be tried 

 with the Vendace. Unfortunately, it grows every 

 year scarcer in Loch-Maben, and it is only with diffi- 

 culty that sufficient can now be captured for the 

 club-feasts which are periodically held in its honour ; 

 while casual visitors find it a great favour to obtain 

 a dish of them. 



The Gwyniad is said to be insipid and of poor 

 flavour, if not eaten immediately after it is caught, 

 and it ah-eady exists in several lakes ; so that it is a 

 question whether it would, without some stronger 

 evidence of its desirability, be worth while expending 

 any further trouble on it. It runs to a fair size, how- 

 h2 



