FISH CULTURE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9375, 18 February 1909, Page 6

FISH CULTURE.

London, January 6. An American has turned an estate at Mayland, near Althorne, in Essex, into a colony of small holdings, and unproductive land has been made fertile. But it is not only the land which he thinks should be cultivated, lor he aims at making the waste water also profitable for his tenants, and .has converted a number of streams into reservoirs, which have recently been stocked for him on scientific principles by Mr A. Hancock, the hon. official netsman of the Thames Angling Preservation Society. The idea is that Tresh water fishing can be made profitable by a careful study of the food values of the. various species and by a scientific stocking of every piece of waste water in the country. The open spaces would give the poor a chance of -getting good wholesome food, while those that are enclosed could be used by landlords, farmers, etc.,as a means of profit by getting additional rental. ;Many of the waters in this country have not been cleaned out and restocked for years, but if the experiment at Mayland prove.succossful it is highly probable that this clearing out will be done and a stimulus given to the breeding of fresh-water fish in the best conditions. There is a large proportion of the country popnlation who would be glad to get fresh-water fish, for they have not all lost the art of oodking them. As a. proof of this one baa only to point out that when the ornamental lake in Regent’s Park was recently cleared out hundreds of the * unemployed took thousands of fish away in buckets and were only too pleased to get them for food. Yet these fish could not be said to be of excellent quality, for nothing had been done to the lake for years, and its bottom was all filthy slime. It is the neglect of ponds on farm and other lands tbat has made freshwater fish deteriorate in quality,and taste, together with the antipathy of the modern housewife to take that v trouble in cleaning and cooking which is so necessary. At Mayland, as soon as the fishing is ripe, classes will he held in the village at which lectures will he given to the men as to the best methods of capture and treatment after capture; and practical lessons in qooking will he given to the women.