WATER POACHERS. 121 
ponds at Stormontfield, where, upon a heron 
being shot, it disgorged more than fifty fry. 
One of the most curious enemies of British 
fresh-water fishes is a small floating water-weed— 
the Bladderwort. Along its branches are a 
number of small green vesicles or bladders, 
‘which, being furnished with tiny jaws, seize upon 
the tiny fishes, which are assimilated into its sub- 
stance. This is a subtle poacher, the true cha- 
racter of which has only lately been detected. 
When salmon and trout are upon the spawn- 
ing-beds their senses seem to become dulled, and 
they are more easily approached than at other 
times. Although the otter is usually regarded as 
an enemy, it may be that he plays a beneficial 
part in the economy of nature. He certainly 
destroys fewer fish than is generally supposed ; 
and his presence near the spawning-beds in some 
rivers is, to my certain knowledge, indirectly 
beneficial to pisciculturists. He kills off the 
slowest, weakest, and diseased fish, and therefore 
helps to eradicate disease. 
The man poacher gets a large share of the 
spawning fish. He obtains these in various ways 
—according to the approved local method. The 
salmon offers a fair mark, and he spears it; whilst 
trout are taken in nets in enormous quantities, 
But fish food taken in this way is insipid and 
