Litchfield enquirer., 1857-05-21
Artificial Sea Fish Ponds.

A
An efficient sea fish pond is situated neal
Fort Nesson in Wgtownshire 1t was con
strueted in 1900 by Mr.. Macdowall, Of Logan
and, being founded upon rock, is as fresh as
the year it was excayated. 1t consists of a
deep basin, artiGcally followed out at the UP
per end OF a narrow natural creek or creyice
between two walls of rock, through which the
tide flows at high water so freely as to keep
the pond for ever freshly salt, and for some
hours full. When the tide reccdes, of course
the water subsidies to the edge of the basin,
leaving eight or ten feet in depth within it
The upper portion of the creek just adjoining
this deep excavation is built up with large
Stones firmly set, but without mortar, so that
when the sea-water of each uprising tide flows
through its interstices, it forms sufficient bar
rier to prevent the escape or outward progress
of the fishes. 1t was low water at the time
OF our visit, and so the pond and it's contents
were distinctly visible. A flight of steps leads
downward to small platform by the waters
edge, and the moment the old woman, who was
our conductress, showed herself in the act of
descending these steps, the whole body of cod.
fish and other creatures moved toward her
just as a flock of poultry follow henwife.
She had in her hand basin filed with sand
eels and limpets and when we neared the
surface of the pond, and were seen by the fish
to be manipulating the contents of the basin,
as many as could press themselves close in
shore raised their heads, or at least the ante.
rior portion, quite out Of the water, opened
their mouths wide, and made a gurgling and
occasionally swapping sound, the latter coca
stoned by the sudden shutting of their Jaws,
whom fhov f,lf or fanoiaI hat I, 4
dropped between them. The sense of taste or
touch seemed quick and delicate in these un.
calmly creatures. While distributing the linz
pets, VIC somewhat idly cast in with them
few heads of the large horse-gowans" Cox
eye daisy which we had CHANGED to pluck in
an adjoining meadow. They also speedily dis
appeared, but only for single second, being
instantaneously rejected with considerable
force. In this way they sometimes blew even
the desired limpets into each others mouths.
The majority seemed quite as tame aud faDil
lar as chickens or puppy-dogs. We observed
that they were unable to swallow any thing
without previously making downward plunge
of their heads, and filling their mouths with
water, the latter being no doubt Immediately
expelled through the gillcovers, while food
passed down into the gullet. They rolled Ia
lilly about, laying their heads over each other,
and kept all pressing in q mass within the
space Of few yards close to the rocky ledge
on which we stood, basin in hand, the latter
being evidently the inducemcnt to congregate,
rather than any personal prediction for our
selves. The sight was singular, and showed
how even the natives of the sunless deep may
be domesticated, and rendered as familiar as
land animals. As We stood on the lower STEP
au nireaw of the surface of the water, some of
them laid their large languishing faces over
our feet, allowed us to put our hands beneath
them, and roll them over, or even raise and re-
plunge them (as nurses do children) out of and
then beneath their native brine. The species
were chiefly cod, with few 1.-THE, gurnard,
and small grilse or sea.trout The last
named was very shy and wary and although
hunger is a great leveler, and is apt to bring
down haughtiness to par with humility, yet
while approaching the scene of festivity, he
never assembled to the surface, but kept con-
feet below and as the food, when thrown in,
was instantaneously swallowed by the cloud of
Goldfish which hung above, certainly hone was
allowed to make its way to salmo in the lower
regions. Some of the cod had been impris-
oned for about couple of years. 1t is not
found advisable either to keep them long in
confinement, or to have them of large size, in
consequence of their tendency, in either case,
to tyranniZe over the new corners of smaller di-
mensions The old fellows, therefore, require
to be removed from time to time, and carried
teDderly toward the larder. Herrings are sell
dom kept in confinement, as from their fat and
defenceless nature, they too easily fall prey
to the more gaunt and wide-mouthed kinds,
who inguIf them greedily.
We were considerably affected by the ten
deruess of feeling which seemed to exist be-
tween most of these fishes and their ancient
feeder. They had entire confidence in each
other, and this was, no doubt, the foundation
of their mutual respect and happiness, as it is
that OF all the domestic affections. There can
be no real or enduring cheerfulness without it,
either OIL the steadiest earth, or in the glitter
ing waters. We know that many strong at
tachments have existed between men aud fish.
One of the most noted on record is that which
was felt by Hcrtensius for lamprey, at the
death of which the orator almost broke his
heart, sand somewhat morosely resented a
friends cajolery of his grief, by retorting that
such dependency never would have befallen
M" Ns"c cs9oieTJ Wno hau sulsNeo se'en
wives, and never shed tear for one Of them.
Antonio the wife Of Drusus, entertained SO
great love for another lamprey, that she
could find in her heart to deck it, and to hang
q paire of golden earrings about the guils
thereof" Many Of the conscript fathers, who
might have had other things to think Of, were
SO charmed when they succeeded in training
some docile fayorite to feed from their fingers,
as to be wrapt in an elysium Of delight. Tame
fish are now quite ont Of fashion, although we
hope that their recent introduction into the
vivaria of our Geological Gardens may revive
the taste BlaekuooPs Magazine.
The hardest thing to tame in the world, is
m unrulN tongue.