268 How to obtain it. 
these cannot be found than making them into eel baskets, which 
are profitable to work, in addition to being exceedingly useful in 
keeping down the trout’s worst enemies. The pond mud which 
is shovelled out at spawning time when the ponds are cleaned is 
a capital manure for many crops, and amongst other things I may 
mention a couple of thousand black-currant bushes, which I find 
it suits admirably. 
Trout cannot see their food at a great distance, but when a 
handful is thrown into a pond a few fish are sure to be near, and 
they go for it; other fish seeing them, get the signal, and soon the 
water is in a state of great commotion. They soon see the 
attendant who feeds them when he makes his appearance on the 
bank of a pond, and they get to know him. When very hungry, 
however, they will often come to a stranger. Colours evidently 
make an impression upon them. I have seen a whole pond-full 
of fish not only refuse to feed, but keep out of sight when a lady 
in a light-coloured dress or with a parasol has appeared on the 
bank. 
I have had trout so tame that they would come and take food 
out of my hand, but they are rather rough in their manners, and 
their sharp teeth will sometimes lacerate the hand severely. Any- 
one trying this experiment and being successful, is not likely to 
keep it up long. Trout have been credited with very rapid 
digestive powers. Iam not so sure that their digestion is always 
so rapid, however, and care should be taken not to overfeed them. 
They are certainly more liable to disease when too well fed. A 
little practice will soon enable the caretaker to know when suffi- 
cient food has been given. 
It sometimes happens that trout will not take food. This is 
often notably the case during times of hard frost when there is 
ice on the water. At spawning time also they eat very little, and 
after being handled, as for instance for sorting or counting. This 
should never be done except at spawning time, when it is desirable 
to examine every fish on the farm that is over two years of age. 
This work should be carried out just before the spawning work 
commences, and should be finished before the actual “stripping” 
of the fish is begun. Trout eat twice as much in summer as they 
do in winter, and often more than this. As a general rule it may 
