46 An Anglers Paradise. 
a great variety, and a copious supply, of the creatures on which 
trout and other fish feed, such as Extomostraca, Copepoda, etc. ; 
whereas, in other places, there is a great scarcity of this minute 
yet exceedingly valuable fish food. The conditions that favour 
the growth of these creatures, and their presence or absence from 
any given piece of water, are mattters of vital importance, and 
should be carefully studied. The insect life has also a very 
important bearing upon the future of. the fisheries, and in some 
localities there is at times a great scarcity, although at other times 
there may be a great abundance of this food. We find there are 
two things which tend to stunt the growth of trout, and they are, 
uncertain supplies or scarcity of food, and low temperature. 
The difficulty of low temperature can, however, be overcome, 
if on the other hand a good food supply is always available. I 
have grown fish to several pounds in weight in water of a low 
temperature by feeding them, and herein lies the main secret of 
success. Cold water and little food, which is the state of things 
existing in some mountain lakes or tarns, will dwarf the fish ; but, 
given asufficiency of suitable food, the latter will improve. Where 
races have thus been permanently dwarfed for a long series of 
years, the introduction of new blood is undoubtedly advantageous, 
but the alteration of Nature’s balance should be attended to first. 
Apply the power, and so increase the food supply, the 
improvement of the fish will follow in the natural order of things. 
That many comparatively barren pieces of water might be so 
improved is certain, and this applies to any district where suitable 
trout water is to be found. Trout are increasing in numbers 
in Windermere, and in quality and size are excellent. This is 
what may be expected, for the pike have been successfully 
reduced in quantity, and a moderate amount of trout culture has 
been carried on. These two operations must tell their tale, 
other things of course being equal. There is scope in Windermere 
lake alone, and a natural food supply, that is capable of being 
made to produce very large results indeed. There are in 
Windermere, as in many of ‘the other lakes, enormous quantities 
of eels, and these should be attended to as well as the pike, for 
they are most destructive to trout. A single eel, one pound in 
weight, will clean out hundreds of yearlings, or thousands of fry, 
