How to obtain it. 247 
important part of the fish culturist’s art, and one that seems to 
have been entirely overlooked in the past. It was found out years 
ago at the Solway Fishery that by allowing the grass and other 
plants to grow, instead of cutting them too much, a host of live ° 
stock was produced, and the fish became accustomed to this from 
their infancy. It is a pretty sight, indeed, to watch: the little fish 
in May, when just commencing life in earnest, rising freely to the 
fly. It is clear that when the sward is kept bare and the flies are 
not to be found, the fish cannot take them, and if they do not get 
the chance they lose the lesson, and a most important one it is. 
Where flies are produced in large numbers the little fish learn to 
take them beautifully ; nay, they look for them daily, and depend 
upon them, and the lesson which is learnt in infancy, and impressed 
upon them in so practical a manner, is never forgotten. They 
get a liking for entomology which they never lose, and in after-life 
will do credit to their race. 
There is undoubtedly a good deal to say in favour of inherited 
instinct, and a race of fish brought up to bottom feeding may be 
followed by a bottom feeding progeny. Even should this be the 
case, however, early training will prove successful, and the trained 
fish will win the prize against others. But by feeding them on 
the surface, and keeping a large number of fish in a pond, an eager- 
ness is acquired to “go for” their food that is not known amongst 
wild fish. This tendency provides a wonderful facility for training 
them, and, as I have already said, they may be taught to do 
almost anything reasonable, if placed in the hands of an expert 
who is well up in his work. It must not for a moment be 
supposed that Dick, Tom, or Harry, if entrusted with the care of 
a lot of trout, would manage them successfully, even with the aid 
of books. It requires much patience and skill, and a sort of 
“inherited instinct” or love of nature on the part of the man, 
without which the case is hopeless. The individual who possesses 
this faculty, and there are many who do, may succeed with due 
care and a sufficient amount of training. 
A good deal has been said about fish, in these days of 
progress, ceasing in some places to rise as freely as formerly to the 
fly. The fact is that many waters are so overfished that the fly- 
taking trout get caught, and so gradually leave behind a bottom- 
