ON LABES, POOLS, ETC. 183 



applies more forcibly here ; and" I may remark that it 

 is a question if we do not already possess, in the pike 

 and the perch, two fish equally good with the ahove- 

 named fish; and it would be worth while to con- 

 sider, whether it be advisable to increase the number 

 of destructive and voracious fish which inhabit our 

 waters, and which might by any accident become 

 naturalized in our more valuable fisheries, where theio 

 introduction would be but a nuisance and a mis- 

 fortune. If, however, variety be thought desirable, 

 where it can do no harm, I have nothing further to 

 urge against it. 



Before closing this chapter I may add a few words 

 to the account already given of the transport to 

 this country of the Silunis Olanis} Dr. Giinther 

 gives it as his opinion that it is the only fish we 

 could get from Central Europe which would be of 

 any use to us. In a conversation I had with the 

 Doctor lately, he advised that lakes which have more 

 or less peat banks or beds should be stocked with 

 sUurus, as more appropriate to the fish. If such a 

 condition be requisite, we have an abundance of 

 lakes, now aU but useless, which may be made avail- 

 able. The tiger eel, referred to below. Dr. Giinther 

 supposed to have been the burbot, as he stated 

 ' See page 103.^ 



