Fish can be raised with less trouble and cost than other articles of food. The lakes and rivers are full of animal and vegetable organizations upon which fish can live, now wasted, but which should be utilized by stocking these waters by suitable varieties. There is not only an abundance of food, but it is also true that fish need less food to produce a given amount of flesh than is required by birds or quadrupeds. The amount which will make a pound of poultry or beef, will make many pounds of fish ; this is owing to the fact that they are cold blooded and usually inactive animals. When we see them in water, they are in motion because they see us; at times they go long distances in search of breeding places, but they are, as a rule, quite torpid in their habits. Animal action consumes the system. For this reason, those who wish to fatten cattle or poultry keep them confined. Animal heat is also a great consumer of food, and a large share of all that is eaten by warm blooded animals is needed to maintain this vital heat. As fish are cold-blooded, they need but little food for this purpose, and most that they take goes to make bulk and weight. The fact that this class of animals will live a long time without eating anything is familiar to all. There is but little waste of their system in any way. We frequently see birds and fishes kept in the same rooms, while the first are restless and need constant care and feeding, and frequent cleansing of their cages, the latter are almost motionless, unless disturbed ; and as the water in which they are kept is usually clear and fresh, it has in it but little food.

It may be true that a pound of fish does not contain as much nourishment as a pound of beef, but the difference is by no means as great as the difference in the cost of production. For some purposes of health it is much more valuable than a like weight of other food. Less care and labor are needed to raise fish than to raise other animals, or even to raise vegetables. We must give close attention to our flocks and herds throughout the year, and we must toil through a long season in our fields to make vegetables grow. Lakes and rivers are well said to be like fields prepared for seed. Fish only need our help in one way. At breeding times their eggs are mostly destroyed by numerous enemies, and but few are hatched. By artificial means at a trifling cost nearly all the eggs can be saved, and vast numbers of young produced.

While on this analogy, it may be suggested that rotation of crops may be as advantageously introduced in piscicultute as in agriculture. In a portion of France, where the land is low and can be overflowed at pleasure, by a system of dyking, crops of grain and eels are alternated, the latter being the most profitable, but this is only the germ of the true principle. When one sort of root or grain or vegetable is repeated on the same land, it is found that the soil is exhausted of its food, while its enemies are augmented in number. Identically the same thing occurs with fish when they are kept in one locality. They use up their food and increase the list of their foes. So soon as this happens they suffer, and should be supplanted by a different species, living on different food, and having a totally different class of enemies. Wherever this has been done, the effect has been surprising, the new species increasing enormously for the first few years, and then meeting the fate of its predecessors. It is a curious fact that the stomachs of fish are so often found to be entirely empty of food, and the migratory varieties seem hardly to feed at all while preparing to spawn. This would imply either that they digest very rapidly, or can 'go a long time without nutriment, and, probably, both of these deductions are true. Heat and motion are the main consum ers of food, for animal bodies are physically machines, which must be supplied with fuel if motion is to be generated, and will wear out with friction unless the waste is restored. A man or a horse can only perform his quota of work if his body is thoroughly nourished, and, on the other hand, neither needs nor can digest his full amount of food unless he works. The terrestrial animals are warm blooded and active, many of them, in their natural state, getting their food by the chase, whereas fish are cold blooded, and, although occasionally making long journeys, are ordinarily quiet.

The following points upon fish culture seem to be established : First - Fish culture, extending to every desirable variety of fish is entirely practicable. Second - It may, under proper management, be made profitable to the producer ; as much so or more than the cultivation of land, or of land animals, and on similar conditions. Third - It may furnish to all classes an abumdance of cheap, and the most nutritious and healthful food.

Fourth - It is absolutely necessary in order to the preservation of the fish of the country from total destruction. Fifth - Every section of our country, and all its creeks, rivers, lakes and seacoasts are available for this, care being taken that the right kinds of fish be selected for the waters into which they are placed, observing latitude, climate, temperature and quality of the water. Sixth - It may be carried on by stocking waters with young fish brought from hatching establishments, or by obtaining eggs for hatching, and both eggs and young fish may be transported safely to almost any distance. Seventh - The money capital required for these operations is small, skill, care, patience, perseverence and common sense, the same as m any other business, being the chief requisites. Eighth - Individual enterprise is alone sufficient for success, though State action is desirable; indeed, legislation is essential, if not to foster at least to protect those engaged in the business of fish culture.