34 An Angler's Paradise. 
wonderful mechanical contrivances, should have almost entirely 
neglected, until within the last few years, to endeavour to increase 
the rapidly diminishing and deteriorating supplies of fish in some 
of our waters. 
True it is, that as the mournful looking morass or the 
heathery moor have in so many cases been transformed into fields 
of waving corn, and often made to produce an abundant crop 
where hardly a blade would grow before, so our most unfruitful 
streams can be filled with salmon or trout; our lakes, ponds, 
reservoirs and other waters may be made to teem with life, and 
to produce as rich and abundant a harvest as some of the best 
cultivated fields in our favoured land. And why not cultivate fish 
just as much as ducks or poultry, or any other produce of the 
farm-yard. 
Now that we know that a river or a pond may be doubled 
in value by a reasonable outlay ; or to put the matter in another 
way, now that we know that the yield of fish may thus be doubled 
or more than doubled in any locality, surely the matter is worth 
our serious attention. Whether entered into with a view to 
supplying the market, or with the intention of affording an 
increase of sport to anglers, the time has come when the growing 
of fish no longer remains as a curious and interesting scientific 
experiment, but is w fatt accompli. Much has already been learned,, 
as the results are proving, and there is great encouragement in 
looking back for twenty years and noting the progress that has. 
been made. There is a wide field open before us. The only 
question is—Who will go in and occupy it? There is endless. 
scope for development of our water, and now that we know how 
to develop there is good reason for making a commencement. 
Every valley should have its set of fish ponds for angling purposes. 
and be able to provide some good fishing: for those who want it. 
The fish ponds that are at present to be found on various. 
parts of the Continent, are not only highly interesting, but are also. 
very suggestive. As far back as the middle ages, the monks are 
said to have had a valuable system of fish culture. In this 
country, too, we know that it was the case, for not only is it an oft- 
repeated historical fact, but the remains of the fish ponds are 
there to tell their own tale. What was the special object of the 
