Introduction

MGLEfS and How fo Obtain if BERKELE GENcRAL LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AN EXPERIMENT IN THE TREATMENT OF FURUNCULOSIS. DURING THE SUMMERS of 1911 and 1912 outbreaks of disease amongst fish, and especially among the balmomdae, were reported from some of the rivers in the south-western part of England. These outbreaks were made the subject of a report by Dr Masterman, of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, assisted by Dr Arkwright, who investigated the matter for the Government. Separate investigations on "the same outbreaks were also carried on at the laboratories of the Field, and also by Dr Adams at the Clinical Research Association. The result arrived at by these inde- pendent investigations showed that a disease known as furunculosis. the fish were suffering from Furunculosis has been commented on in the Field on more than " On one occasion, Mortality in and the Trout," symptoms were given in an article, Feb. 6, 1909. The disease is caused by a specific bacillus, Bacillus salmonicida. Dr Masterman's report was commented on in the Field, June 1, 1912; and an account of furunculosis, with the work done by Emmerich and Weibel in 1894, and the further researches of Marianne Plehn up to 1911, were described in an article, also in the Field, on June 8, 1912, and in the same article the symptoms of thp disease were fully described. These symptoms vary considerably. With Emmerich and Weibel the "appearance of abscesses in the muscles was a well-recognised symptom; in the recent epidemic abscesses were frequently seen, but were not always present. Sometimes all the fish snowed furuncles; at another time these were the exception. The number, the size, and the position vary considerably. The size may vary from that of a, pin's head- to that of a five-shilling piece. Sometimes they lie close under the skin and can be seen without dissection, as is shown in the accompanying photographs, taken by Mr F. M. Halford. Furuncle. FIG. Some very important experiments have recently been made by M. de Quatrefages on the vitality of the spermatozoa, or essential part of the seminal secretion in fish.* From these experiments he concludes that for each species of fish there is a fixed temperature which is most likely to insure successful fecundation. The facts which he thus arrives at are generalised in the following table : For fish which spawn in winter, as the salmon and trout, the proper temperature is from ...... For fish which spawn in early spring, as the pike ......... ... ^ For fish which spawn in late spring, as the perch ......... For fish which spawn in summer, as the barbel ............ 43 to 46 Fahr. 46 to 50 57 to 61 68 to 77 These temperatures should consequently be those of the water employed in the artificial fecundation The practice of artificial breeding may be divided into five distinct phases namely, (1) Exclusion, or the removal from the parent fish, of the male and female generative elements ; (2) Fecundation, or the application of the product of the male to that of the female; (3) Foetation, or the process of development of the embryo in the egg ; (4) Extri- cation, or the escape of the embryo from the ovum ; We and (5) Feeding. shall now mainly follow the directions given by M. Coste,* whose experience in this department of industrial science must give peculiar value to his suggestions. EXCLUSION AND FECUNDATION. The fish upon which we wish to operate should be taken, if possible, immediately off the spawning ground at the period when they are just about to deposit their spawn. The following table shows the principal periods of spawning, in these countries, of the more important British fresh-water fish. It must be borne in mind, however, that it is, in many cases, impossible to fix with certainty the exact periods, as these vary .considerably with locality ' and temperature : .". Name of Fish. Period of Spawning. Salmon (Salmo solar) Salmon-trout (Salmo trutta) Common trout (Salmo fario) From Nov. to Feb. From Oct. to Jan. From Oct. to Jan. Great Lake" trout (Salmo ferox) September. Northern charr (Salmo umbla) Nov. and Dec. Smelt (Osmerus epcrlanus) . . . March and April. Grayling (Thymallus vulgaris) April and May. Pike (Esox lucius) March and April. Carp (Cyprinus carpio) May and Jun. Barbel (Barbus vulgaris) ... May and June. Tench (Tinea vulgaris) June. Carp-bream (Abramis brama) Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) ... Perch (Perca fluviatilis) May. April and May. April and May. er AN ANGLER'S PARADISE HOW TO OBTAIN IT J. J. ARMISTEAD. ! THE AUTHOR. AN ANGLER'S PARADISE AND HOW TO OBTAIN IT. J. J. ARMISTEAD. M Author of "A SHORT HISTORY OF PISCICULTURE," Lecturer on " FISHCULTURE," " IMPROVEMENT OF FISHERIES," ETC Member of Royal Commission on Tweed and Solway Fisheries, Proprietor of the Solway Fish Farm, School of Fishculture, Etc., Etc. THIRD EDITION. PUBLISHED BY THE ANGLER, AT THE OFFICES, SCARBOROUGH. 1898. PRINTED BY 'THE GAZETTE COMPANY, LIMITED, 31, ST. NICHOLAS STREET, SCARBOROUGH. TO SIR HERBERT EUSTACE MAXWELL, BART., M.P. THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. HAVE T frequently been pressed to write a book on fish culture, and at the earnest request of many who take a great interest in the subject I undertook the task, and this volume is the result. I trust much information may be found in its pages that will prove useful to many of those who read it. I know what a help such a book would have been to me when I first began to study the subject. I have divided it into two parts. In the first four chapters I have made mention of some well- known angling resorts, of the Solway Fishery, and of the progress of fish culture ; and for the second part of the work I have written some thoroughly practical chapters, which are intended to serve as a guide to those who are the fortunate possessors of suitable, water, and which will enable them to develop the resources which have so long lain dormant. viii. PREFACE. If the style in which I have written be somewhat varied, it must be borne in mind that the conditions under which the writing has been done have also been varied, and this must be my apology for any deficiency which may be found in its pages. Most of the chapters have been written off without the opportunity of reference to other books. Several of them have been penned whilst crossing the Atlantic, some in railway station waiting-rooms, often during a midnight wait, or in the early hours A of the morning. part was written at sea in the cabin of a trawler, and the rest has been put. together amidst the scenes of a very busy life. For my knowledge of the subject I am indebted largely to my own perseverance, and determination to under- stand thoroughly that which I had taken up as my life's work ; as well as to many fellow-labourers in the same field, who have given me the benefit of their knowledge. It is interesting to look back upon the work of thirty years that have passed away, and to note how one has been led, and how the work has developed, at times under considerable difficulties, until it has reached its present magnitude. The present seems a fitting opportunity for tendering my warmest thanks to some of those who have aided me in my investigations of so fascinating a subject. To the late Frank Buckland I am indebted for my first PREFACE. ix, introduction to the study, and to the late Dr. Francis Day for his kindly help on various occasions when it was niy privilege to meet him. But for ttys kindly advice and encouragement of the former the Solway Fishery would never have been commenced. To my friend, George H. Brocklehurst, B.Sc.^ I am indebted for a considerable amount of assis- tance in microscopic research and the study of embryology, etc. In studying the mysteries of our ponds and ditches, and working out the life histories of many of the creatures contained therein, I have been largely assisted by my friend, Leonard West,. Esq., of Darlington, who has kindly supplied the drawings in illustration of the chapter on pond life, as well as a considerable portion of the letterpress. To Mr. Thomas Bolton, of Birmingham, I am also indebted for information respecting the microscopic inhabitants of our waters, and also for drawings illustrative of the embryonic life of a salmonoid. For views of the Solway Fishery I am indebted to Mr. Willie Anderson, of Partick, Glasgow, and to J. Rutherford, Esq., of Jardington, Dumfries; and I am glad to take this opportunity of acknowledging the kindness and hospitality of many who will read these pages, who have, from time to time, permitted free access to their waters for the purposes of scientific research, etc. Without the help of some PREFACE. of these this book would in all probability never have seen the daylight, and many pleasant memories are recalled of excursions by river, brook, and mere, by the writing of its pages. J. J. ARMISTEAD. Solway Fishery, Dumfries, December, 1894. PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. ""PHREE years having almost elapsed since the publication of the Second Edition, which is now nearly cleared out, and the demand still keeping up, I have decided on issuing a third. The price will remain the same until half the Edition is sold, when it will be raised to 12/6. This is rendered necessary owing to the number published being smaller. J. J. ARMISTEAD. Solway Fisheiy, Dumfries, November, 1898. CONTENTS. PART i. AN ANGLER'S PARADISE CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. Referring to what has been done at home and abroad In New Zealand In Tasmania Taking Salmon by machinery in America, etc. ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 CHAPTER II. Having reference to the Solway Fishery Loch Kinder and its trout Loch Leven trout An angler's paradise Poachers Nature's motive power ... ... ... ... ... 14 CHAPTER III. CHIEFLY HISTORICAL. Frank Buckland His prophecies their fulfilment Troutdale Fishery Introduction of black bass and American trout Sol- way Fishery commenced Its progress Nocturnal adventures Discovery in Germany by Golstein Jacobi Gehin and Remy M. Coste Hiiningen Gremaz German progress ... ... 23 CHAPTER IV. Referring to Lake Vyrnwy Loch Leven The English Lake District ... ... ... ... ... ... 36 PART II HOW TO OBTAIN IT CHAPTER I. FISH PONDS CONSTRUCTION. How not to make them How to make them Water supply- Sluices and overflow "Safety valve" Leaf Screens Ponds to be off the stream Flood water kept out Spawning beds Barren water Cultivation Artificial spates Storage of water Outlet xii. CONTENTS. screen Effect of wind Material for screens Various kinds and importance of screens Fontinalis rising to the fly; Bottom outlets How to work them ... ... ... ... CHAPTER II. FISH PONDS CULTIVATION. Plants Balance of life Flora and Fauna Old ponds require cleaning Pond life Its bearing on fish life Cultivation Con- ditions of soil Planting New ponds Virgin waters Whitley reservoir Importance of mollusca and crustaceans Aquatic plants Dalbeattie reservoir Loch Fern Plants to avoid- Weeding Aimchans Marginal plants ... ... ... CHAPTER III. FISH PONDS CULTIVATION CONTINUED. Marginal plants Insect life Plants for deep water Plants to avoid Advantages of water lilies Bottom-covering plants A fish-eating plant Ponds at Washington Mollusca Crustacea Eels How to catch them ... ... ... ... CHAPTER IV. FISH PONDS HOW TO STOCK THF.M. Preparation Stocking -Carrying live trout -Dipping the trout Transit Large fish Two-year-olds Yearlings Fry Nursery ponds Water plants Turning out fry Fry in rivers Excellent travellers Glass carriers Advantages of Equalizing tem- perature Fish killed by thoughtlessness Wooden carriers Metal Travelling trout in August Care required Fully eyed ova Trout at the Antipodes American work Successes ... CHAPTER V. THK HATCHKRV, Selection of the \vate~-- Its importance Construction Out-door hatchery In-door Filtration of water How to construct natchery Frostproof building Lighting Concrete floor Drainage The apparatus Caibonizing Trap boxes Catchpool No admittance Beware of visitors Early days of the Solway Fishery are required in a hatchery ... ... ... CHAPTER VI. COLLECTING THE EGGS. The old method as employed at Troutdale Hatchery Ova hunting in Cumberland Work on a natural stream The water ouzel Blank days Honister Crag Ulleswater Advantages of the present system Spawning trout Laying down the eggs Embryology Dry method of impregnation Catching the Spawners Sorting Cleanliness Effects of temperature Washing the eggs Hermaphrodite trout ... ... ... CHAPTER VII. INCUBATING THE EGGS. Everything in perfect working order Everything well seasoned Preparing the grilles Laying down ova Picking Beware of fungus Sediment Effects of concussion Washing eggs The eye spots Embryo as seen through the microscope The eggs commence hatching ... ... ... ... ... 51 76 91 103. 124. 140 156 CONTENTS. xiii CHAPTER VIII. HATCHING THE EGGS. Glass grilles Their cost Their advantages Cleaning the hat- ing boxes The egg-shells Artificial ova beds Settling pondFiltering bed Wire grilles Destruction of ova left to Nature- Advantage of artificial beds* Californian baskets Repairing grilles Overcrowding Way of economising space Compact storage box ... ... ... ... ... ... I7O CHAPTER IX. PACKING AND UNPACKING THE EGGS. Ova at the antipodes The tropics Various methods Modus operandi at the Solway Fishery Selecting and preparing the moss Its cultivation Woven fabric Best time to pack Ova hatch rapidly on unpacking Long voyages Unpacking Washing off the moss Fully eyed eggs ... ... ... 184 -CHAPTER X. CARE OF "ALEVINS." Word derived from the French Appearance on first hatching Very helpless at first Begin to pack Hides to be avoided Provide lids for the boxes Structure of " alevins " Cleanliness Guard against rats or mice Water insects How to detect their presence Cripples Deformities Dropsy or blue swelling Constitutional weakness Fungus Paralysis White spot Suffocation Still waters ... ... ... .., ... 191 CHAPTER XI. POND LIFE. Water full of life Care required in dealing with it The rotifera Rules for cultivation Nature's provision for. young fish Daphnia pulex Cyclops quadricomis Cypris tristriata Arachnida Notonecta Corixa Gammarus Dytiscus Caddis worms Ephemera Shellfish Parasites Saprolegnia ... 202 CHAPTER XII. REARING THE FRY. Commencing to feed Training The right kind of food Time for turning out Entomostraca Grated liver Mode of feeding Feeding machines Shrimp paste Chopping machine Transfer to rearing ponds The old plan The new plan Floating boxes Ponds to be kept quiet Cutting the grass Pond bottoms to be kept clean Earth in ponds Scum on the water Fungus Salt Thinning out the fish... ... ... ... ... 228 CHAPTER XIII. THE YEARLING STAGE. Salmonida adapted to cultivation Rising to the fly Fish culture requires experience The food of yearlings Must be properly dispensed Development and selection of stock fish Defor- mitiesPedigree stock Sorting Transit of yearlings Netting Preparation necessary Caution to purchasers Yearling nets Yearlings hold their own against large trout Two- year olJs ... .. ... ... .. 246 xiv. CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIV. MANAGEMENT OF MATURE TROUT. Maturity considered How mature trout are dealt with The net Its use Emptying the pond Business pond differs widely from a lake or river Trout eating trout Sorting the fish Food The maggot factory Tadpole rearing Frogs and toads considered Trout get very tame Approach of spawning time Can trout hear Do fishes sleep The senses of taste and smell Varieties of colour and markings How many species Selec- tion and crossing of races Trout anadromous in New Zealand Reversion to type Square tail and forked tail ... ... CHAPTER XV. SALMON CULTURE. 4 Great loss in nature Large number of eggs deposited Bad management of our rivers Some evils may be remediedPoachers considered Impounding salmon Where to get the best eggs Nature's discrepancies provided for More about poachers Fate of the eggs Falling off in catch of salmon Rate of natural increase considered Feeding of salmon Migration Experiments Smolts and grilse The United States Salmon of Alaska Alaskan and British salmon compared Saprolegnia ... ... ... ... ... ... 261 279- ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE, THE AUTHOR . . . THE SHANTY, SOLWAY FISHERY PART OF SOLWAY FISH FARM , . . . . ' . , . . ,-.". .'* . Frontispiece. . 32 . . . 50 Plan of pond and bye-wash (Fig. 1} . , . 55 Outlet screen (Fig. 2) . . Plan of fry ponds (Fig. 3) ..... Outlet Plug (Fig. 4) Fish carrier (Fig. 5) . ....... AN ANGLER'S PARADISE . . . . . . . . . . *. t . . . 68 109 in 116 120 VIEW IN MAIN HATCHERY, SOIAVAY FISHERY Filter box (Fig. 6) .. . . . . . . . . 124 .127 ......... Outlet spout, the right way (Fig. 7) Do. the wrong way (Fig. 8) . Charring implement (Fig. 9) Do. (Fig. 10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 131 132^ 132 Do. (Fig. TI) . . Hatching tanks (Fig. 12) . . AT SPAWNING TIME, SOLWAY FISHERY . ". . ' . . . . 132 . 139 146 Egg-washing box (Fig. 13) . . 155 Egg-picker used at Solway Fishery (Fig. 14) 159 Trout ovum, magnified (Fig. 15) Dipping tube, plain (Fig. 16) . Do. with bulb (Fig. 17) . .. . 167 169 , .169 Do. Do. bent (Fig. 18) . with drum (Fig. 19) . 169 169 Compact hatching box (Fig. 20) . *%3 "Alevin" trout magnified (Fig. 21 ) . Rotifer (Fig. 22) . . Daphnia pulex (Fig. 23) .. Cyclops quadricornis (Fig. 24) Cypris tristriata (Fig. 25) Water mites (Fig. 26) . . Gammarus pulex (Fig. 27) . . . . *94 *3 2O5 .207 208 21 Dytiscns marginalis and larva (Fig. 28) , Hydrophilns piceus and larva (Fig. 1:9) , . . .212 xvi. ILL USTRA TIONS. i'AGE. Caddis fly (Fig. 30) Ephemera vulgaris (Fig. 31) ' ' . . . . 213 . 214 Limnceus pereger (Fig. 32) Do. auricularis (Fig. 33) , . V . , ,. ' . 216 . 216 Do. stagnalis (Fig. 34) Planorbis comeus (Fig. 35) Ancylusfliiviatilis(F\g. 36) . . . . ' ,: . ' . 217 .217 217 Paludina vivipera (Fig. 37) . , . 217 Anadonta cygnea (38) . t//'t> margaritifer (Fig. 39) , Cyctas cornea (Fig. 40) ., ; Trichodnia pedicuhis (Fig. 41) ' - . . ...... . . ; .. ,; . ... 218 218 219 220 Gyrodactylns elegans (Fig. 42) , , 220 Zto. foot of (Fig. 43) . . . . . 220 .... Geometra piscicola (Fig 44) . . . . Anguhis foliaceus (Fig. 45) 221 . 222 SOME NURSERY PONDS, SOLWAY FISHERY . . . 234 ;SoME NURSERY PONDS, MANAGER'S HOUSE, AND YEARLING HOUSE, SOLWAY FISHERY . , . - , :. ; * . 242 PREPARING YEARLINGS, SOLWAY FISHERY . . , -. 256 .Square tail or forked tail (Fig. 46) . . f '. . . ,, . . 278 t- AN ANGLER'S PARADISE AN ANGLER'S PARADISE. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY. Referring to what has been done at home and abroad In New Zealand In Tasmania Taking Salmon by machinery in America, etc. V/ES ! Trout culture as a means of stocking waters is a success in Britain. Its benefits are already being largely felt in many quarters, and it only requires to be more widely known and its advantages understood, and it will be extensively taken up by those who have the necessary facilities for availing themselves of its benefits. Its success is proved beyond doubt, by the results which have accrued of late years to the stocking or restocking of waters, when judiciously done. I say judiciously done, for much depends on this. I am aware that many sweeping assertions have been made to the contrary, but results have proved them to be incorrect. It is true that in bringing the matter to the successful issue that it has reached there have been many failures, and it is owing in a measure to some of these failures, that the results are not infinitely larger to-day than is in reality the case. They are of two descriptions : i. In many instances in which fish culture has been at- tempted, it has been by persons who have carried it to a certain point, where it has ended in failure or produced no appreciable result, and so it has been abandoned and frequently a bad name has been given to it. " No result has accrued," they say, " after 4 An Angler's Paradise. considerable outlay in stocking waters." It is here that the mistake has been made, through mismanagement, for the waters referred to have probably not been stocked at all, as stocking is understood to-day. Possibly a quantity -of unhealthy or badly grown fry have been turned out to die, or, it may be, have been killed by the operation, or turned out in places which were totally unsuited for them, and, as might be expected, no improvement has followed. Such failures as these have undeservedly brought discredit on the work, and they have unfortunately had the effect of retarding its progress. 2. The time was but a few years ago when even fish culturists of experience, who were looked up to by others as such, were frequently not rewarded by successful results to their many experiments. Upon these latter failures, however, is now built up a mass of knowledge which has enabled us to bridge over the many difficulties of trout culture, and to overcome what at one time appeared to be insuperable barriers to the further progress of this interesting study. The tendency of late years has been for a great reduction in the prices of our products, but all this time fish as an article of food has -been getting dearer. The cause is obvious, and the remedy is obvious, and the sooner it is applied the better. Do with fish what is done with cattle and with poultry, and the benefit accruing will be very great. Every country house with a water supply should have its fish ponds, for the purpose of supplying the kitchen as well as for angling. This work is now being taken up, and where it is properly carried out the results are highly encouraging. Existing ponds have been utilized most advantageously, and in other cases new ponds have been made on approved principles, and the success of the latter, where properly managed, has been very great indeed. By way of illustration I may mention a pond which I constructed, which measured about ninety feet by thirty and averaged about five feet in depth. Out of this pond was taken over seven hundred pounds weight of trout. These fish had occupied the pond for three years, and for a year previous to their introduction a very small one had contained them. Now multiply the area of the pond by fifteen and the result is four thousand five hundred An Angler's Paradise. 5 square yards, or less than an acre. An acre of such water, then, would produce at the same rate over ten thousand five hundred pounds of trout in three or four years. Taking the value of this at a shilling per pound the result is ^525. Experience teaches us that the cost of producing and maintaining these fish could be brought under ^325, which leaves a margin of ^200, or at the rate of ^50 per annum per acre a very handsome profit indeed. Of course there is risk, and results would vary, but against this may be placed the fact that I have taken a decidedly low estimate. I have indeed simply stated what has been done and not what may be done. It is now more than a quarter of a century since I began my fish-cultural operations, and during that time I have had,