29 
niomout engaged iu laudable endeavours to Imteli trout near 
Canterbury. 
But we must not flatter ourselves that we are altogether about 
to introduce pisciculture as a novelty into this country. 
In former days, when the inhabitants of this country were for 
the most part Homan Catholics, and, therefore, greater eaters of 
fish, the cultivation of fish was looked after; and I would quote a 
good authority on this point:— 
“ That carp were introduced from the Continent to England by 
the monks is nearly certain; this, however, could be accomplished 
without recourse to any artificial modes of procuring or raising 
the young fry. There are, however, many and powerful reasons 
for believing that the grayling, the charr, the gwyniad, and 
perhaps also the veudace, the pollan, and the powan, were also 
introduced by the same agency from foreign countries. This 
belief is supported by the fact that these fish exist only iu isolated 
and often distant waters, sometimes in only one or two neighbour¬ 
ing rivers, whereof that which contains them is apparently the 
least adapted to their habits, but always in such waters as had 
many or distinguished monastic institutions on their banka. 
AVhile England was Catholic, great attention was paid to the 
raising and fattening of the choicest varieties of fresh-water fish, 
an art which sunk into neglect, partly owing, doubtless, to the 
abolition of fast-days, and partly to the great facility witli which 
the finest sea-fish are now transported throughout the country. 
‘'Even to this day, in Austria, Illyria, and parts of the Tyrol, 
the greatest attention is paid to the nurture of the most delicate 
fresh-water fislies in confined situations; and Sir Humphrey Davy 
states, iu his Sahnonica, that ‘at Admondt, in Styria, attached to 
the magnificent monastery of that name, are abundant ponds and 
reservoirs for every species of fresh-wator fish, and the charr, 
grayling, and trout are preserved iu dilferent waters, covered, 
enclosed, and under lock and key.’ ” 
There is no reason why we sliould be behind our ancestors 
in this matter, therefore let us set to work and see what is to be 
done. * 
As regards insects and plants I have somewhat to say, but my 
limits will not allow me more space than to state that thei^e exist 
many specimens of both ; to instance iu the one class the Ligurian 
^ I have received information from Mr. Lloyd, of Portlaiul-road, that in 
the hot summer of 1850, he sent out to the Cape of Good Hope a quantity of 
carp and tench, chat lie delivered 75 per cent, of them alive, and that they 
since multiplied amazingly. He is about to send out some trout to tho 
Cape. 
