THE CALIFORNIAN SALMON. 
93 
they get ravenously hungry before food is offered, some 
may get too weak, and perish without being able to 
partake of the unaccustomed food, or they may gorge 
themselves, causing illness, heavy losses being the result. 
The food which it is most convenient to use, and which 
answers exceedingly well, is the liver of sheep or other 
animals, boiled and grated on a nutmeg-grater, then 
rubbed into the consistency of cream with a little water, 
by the use of a table-knife on a board. In this way 
the particles are made fine enough, so as not to choke 
the young fish. The meat must be perfectly fresh, and 
should be prepared frequently, and care should be taken, 
that not too much is given at a time, as it decays very 
speedily, and will foul the water. Other food is recom- 
mended by some, such as eggs, soured milk, and the 
minute roe of sea fish j but liver is easily obtained, and is 
on the whole, more convenient than any other food. 
Earth should be used at least every second day, a little 
being sprinkled all over the hatching-box, and the fish will 
be found to disperse themselves over every inch of the 
box, hunting about for something that they find in it, and 
seeming to enjoy it greatly. It probably contains micros- 
copic insects invisible to the unaided human eye. Whether 
it be the variety of food obtained from the earth, or some 
mineral constituent in it that they require, certain it is 
that the use of earth is a most important part of their 
treatment. It also acts as a deodoriser and purifier of 
any decaying or faecal matter which may be in the gravel. 
The shower should also be continued two or three times 
daily, and two or three small sods with the grass on them, 
are useful to supply a little vegetable diet. The food 
should be given three or four times a day at first, in very 
small quantities, and care should be taken that little or 
none is wasted, as it is dangerous when decaying, causing 
the water to become putrid. 
