When the weather cools off somewhat, in September for instance, it is probable that an attempt on a goodly scale will be made to ascertain whether the trout does exist in this part of China. Operations will be conducted along the river and streams which are found in the mountains at the back of Hangchow, and judging by the experience of the men taking part, much valuable data should be collected. So far five of our local anglers are more or less engaged to go upon this trip, and as they have fished) much not only at Home but also in the East, their findings over the part of the country traversed are likely to be fairly conclusive. At the same time in this interesting pursuit others may help, for there must be many who have travelled throughout this district who have come upon evidences of the existig desirable that the greatest body of opinion and information should be_made available about it.
For instance it would be important to learn whether anybody can corroborate the report that within the past few years two British naval officers who had been fishing in the Hangchow district returned with two or three dozen trout. The point is whether they were trout or only the local fish which resembles the brook trout of Eng-jand. This is all important, for within these past few weeks a fish has been caught in that district which at first glance seemed to be the veritable article, although not 80 on closer investigation. It is this definite information which is, wanted. Needless to say, also, we want a very much larger fund of information on local ichthyology generally.
A Loca, Suacesrion.
Our correspondence columns last. week contained the interesting suggestion that a club for local anglers should be formed and that|ing a preparatory course at Lyons it might be found possible to hire a local pond or small lake for the purposes of fishing therein. There is nothing impracticable in the matter of expense.
The ideal thing would be to dig a lake out, get a bottom of gravel and see that the sides are properly made. Then reeds along the edge, not too profuse in their number, and the same to apply to lotus or water lily pads. And then trees along the banks, all with the intention of attracting, flies so that the fish will feed on the surface. The pond should be stocked, and a watchman put on to keep away the predatory human beings of the neighbourhood. Experiments in the south have shown how well bass will thrive under such conditions, and as it gives excellent sport, our local anglers would be in luxury.
SusrENDED ANIMATION, In the meantime, however, such a club is in the background of things, but that is no reason why the discussion on local fish and fishing matters should not continue. An interesting point on which information is desirable is that of suspended animation. In India, we are informed, after the torrential rains which occur subsequent to dry spells, have been, in progress for little more than an hour, it is possible to pull fish out of streams where only previously had been dry water-courses. And probably something of the same sort occurs at times here—fish buried in the mud in a stave of suspended animation.
As an instance of the likelihood of this the experience of a resident of the Siccawei district is worth noting. A creek runs through his garden, and at times he takes it into his head to have the channel cleaned out. Starting at low tide he drains as much water off as possible, and in the shallows be has found plenty of fish, some of quite a fair size. His statement is that on the water becoming still ence or otherwise of the trout. It!shallower these fish bury themselves in the mud, where apparently they stay until the water flows back again and allows them to resume their usual pursuits, Presumably, as is said to be the case with other fish elsewhere, they remain in thia condition of suspended animation. As a matter of fact, this particular resident, who is responsible for the statement quoted above about) India, where he has spent several years, intends to' carry out an experiment dealing with the suspended animation theory the next time he cleans out his creek.
This case is quoted, not from the scientific point of view, but as illustrative of the small amount of local information available to anglers. Ubviously local ichthyology presents features of intense interest, and we ought to have a great deal more information at hand.
Canton, July %5.—The Canton authorities are sending a hundred students to Lyons to attend the University of Paris, which is offer-for the first year.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.