264 How to obtain it. 
their positions and look well after themselves. A few undoubtedly 
get eaten, but not many. But in a small pond which is crowded 
with fish that are well fed at least twice daily, it will be apparent 
that one or two large trout will reduce the numbers of the rest. 
The big fellows under such circumstances will become regular 
bullies, and will to an extent prey upon the smaller ones, which 
are very much at their mercy, as they have no stones to dodge 
behind or hiding places to get into. It is surprising, though, how 
the yearling fish, even under such circumstances, will avoid being 
caught. 
- Should a large trout by any means get into a pond full of 
yearlings, he must at once be taken out, and usually there is no 
difficulty in doing this. A rod and line is the remedy, and for a 
lure something that is too big for the yearlings. By skilful hands 
the big fish will soon be hooked and landed without injury. 
Now to return to the fish in the tub. They must not be left 
there a moment longer than can be avoided. They have to be 
sorted, and there will be four kinds or classes, therefore four tubs 
or other vessels will be required in which to place them. They 
may be classified thus :— 
I. Males. 
II. Spawning females. 
III. Non-spawning females, 
IV. Small fish. 
The males are now readily distinguished, and should be 
separated from the females, and put into a pond by themselves. 
The spawning females should be placed in another pond, 
ready to be overhauled again when ripe. 
The non-spawning females may be placed in a tank pro ¢em., 
and then put back into the pond from whence they came as soon 
as it is again filled, unless it is desired to stock it with other fish. 
In any case, a pond should be in readiness to receive them, and 
the spawning females may be put into the same one later on, 
when the eggs have been taken from them. 
The small fish are those which for some reason have not 
grown like the others, and are now very much less in size. There 
will often be a few of these, and the best way of dealing with them 
is to turn them out into some stream or lake, unless there happens 
