UC-NRLF 
 
 SB 
 
 MhD 
 
TROUT CULTURE. 
 
TROUT CULTURE. 
 
 A PRACTICAL TREATISE 
 
 ON THE ART OF 
 
 SPAWNING, HATCHING, AND REARING 
 TROUT. 
 
 BY 
 
 CHARLES C. CAPEL, F.R.M.S. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 IARDWICKE AND BOGUE, 192, PICCADILLY, W. 
 
 1877. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 IN bringing out this little work on the Culture 
 of Trout, the author feels that he is attempting 
 to supply a great want, as many landed pro- 
 prietors, desirous of stocking their waters with 
 that fish, naturally wish for some simple prac- 
 tical work wherein they may find information 
 which will serve for a help to the servant as 
 well as to the master, especially in the absence 
 of the latter. 
 
 The author, in his first attempt at Pisci- 
 culture, would have been truly thankful for such 
 a guide ; and, with the hope that they may be 
 of use to others, and enable them to enter upon 
 a successful career, he now ventures to' publish 
 the results of his own practical experience. 
 
 His grateful acknowledgments are due to 
 
 B 2 
 
iv Introduction. 
 
 the Rev. L. Stone for the account of the Russian 
 or Dry method of Spawning, and for the Spawn 
 and Hatching Tables, &c. ; also to Mr. Richard 
 Edon, of the Museum of Fish Culture, South 
 Kensington, London, for many valuable hints 
 bearing on the subject. 
 
 All the* methods of procedure recommended, 
 have been personally tried, and nothing has been 
 taken from the works of others, so far as the 
 author is aware, without due acknowledgment. 
 
 CRAY FISHERY, 
 
 FOOTS CRAY, KENT. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 INTRODUCTION .. iii 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 THE HATCHING-HOUSE 17 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 THE HATCHING APPARATUS 21 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 SPAWNING 33 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 HATCHING 49 
 
vi Contents. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 REARING 63 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 ENEMIES 83 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 STREAM CLEANING 89 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 CONCLUSION 91 
 
TROUT CULTURE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS. 
 
 THE three qualities, most needed, in order to 
 become a successful trout-rearer, are Patience, 
 Endurance, and Ingenuity. Without these no 
 enterprise can well succeed, and pisciculture 
 is assuredly no exception. In fish breeding 
 patience is required, because its duties are what 
 some might call monotonous : the round of 
 work is regular, and must be carried on much 
 the same, day after day, month after month, 
 with, it may be, very slight variation ; but still, 
 the work soon grows into a habit, and, when 
 once a system has been formed, the tiresome- 
 ness of daily duties is much lessened ; and 
 
Trout Culture. 
 
 from daily observation a sort of attachment 
 spontaneously grows up between the attendant 
 and his charges, which does much to dispel the 
 monotony of the work. 
 
 Endurance, again, is needed, as the spawning 
 and hatching of trout take place in winter, and 
 the coldness of the water is very trying to the 
 hands and arms ; this, however, is but a small 
 matter, if the rest of the body be protected by 
 good woollen clothing, and the feet encased in 
 waterproof boots. The subject of clothing will, 
 however, receive more attention at the end of 
 this chapter. . 
 
 Ingenuity, again, is essential, because acci- 
 dents and misfortunes will happen even to the 
 experienced, and then, he who is the most ready 
 to devise a remedy, or means of escape, will 
 find his quickness of resource amply repaid, 
 and of the greatest value ; as, if anything hap- 
 pens to young trout, unless speedily set right, 
 it usually affects the whole of that stock. He, 
 
Preliminary Considerations. 
 
 therefore, that would successfully rear trout 
 must make up his mind to be constant to 
 duty, fearless of difficulty and obstacle, and 
 quick to act, ready to face cold, snow, and ice ; 
 he must be prepared also to buy experience at 
 some cost ; and it is the object of this little 
 work to reduce that cost as much as possible. 
 
 We have put before the -reader the unpleasant 
 part of the picture ; now, let us turn to the 
 sunny side. What can be more enjoyable than 
 a fine winter's morning, such as we often have 
 in January, with the sunshine dancing among 
 the ripples of the little streams, as they rattle 
 over the golden gravel ? 
 
 " Saw some fine fish up spawning in the 
 Alders this morning, sir. Six or eight there, 
 and lots in the stream above the farm." 
 Cheering news, this, as we meet our faithful 
 lieutenant outside the hatching-house, bustling 
 about amongst nets, tins, &c. How one gloats 
 over the prospect of a good day's spawning ! 
 
io Troitt Culture. 
 
 What a lot of intelligence the wily fishes evince, 
 too, in doubling and baffling their pursuers ! 
 Personally, we would rather have a good day 
 at this than at angling. 
 
 Again, what a charm there is in a well-ordered 
 hatching-house, with its thousands and thou- 
 sands of golden eggs covered with bloom like 
 a ripe peach ! Fish culture is indeed a charm- 
 ing amusement, free from cruelty, and full of 
 enjoyment for anyone who has a love for 
 Nature and her beauties. 
 
 Some one may, doubtless, think that the 
 colouring of this picture has been laid on with a 
 too generous hand : let him try for himself, and 
 it is almost certain he will admit that there 
 has been no exaggeration. 
 
 Some anglers celebrate the death of the first 
 fish with " a glass round " ; we, on the other hand, 
 inaugurate the existence of our first batch of 
 eggs in the same way, wishing them health and 
 long life. 
 
Preliminary Considerations. 1 1 
 
 Before this chapter closes, a few remarks on 
 clothing may not be out of place, and, firstly, as 
 to covering for the feet. From personal ex- 
 perience, we strongly prefer the thigh wading 
 boots of indiarubber to the hide boots, as 
 being much lighter, requiring no dressing, and 
 if properly used, more comfortable. Two pairs 
 are necessary, so as to permit the evaporation 
 of the perspiration from the interior of one pair 
 whilst the other is in use. Waterproof socks 
 also tend very materially to preserve the boots, 
 and, what is more, the health of the wearer, 
 as they can easily be turned inside out and 
 aired, thus keeping the foot of the boot dry 
 and free from mouldiness. 
 
 One or two pairs of thick woollen socks 
 should be worn under the rubber socks. 
 
 The body should be encased in woollen gar- 
 ments, upper and under, to resist the damp, as 
 hatching-houses generally are, more or less, 
 saturated with aqueous vapour. A pair of india- 
 
12 Trout Cidture. 
 
 rubber gloves lined with wool will be found a 
 most comfortable adjunct to the furniture of 
 the fish-breeding establishment. 
 
 For the supply of waterproof articles we 
 have long employed Mr. George Cording, of 
 125, Regent Street, and 199, Strand, and can 
 speak very highly of his productions. 
 
 The first matter of a special nature, which it 
 behoves us to consider, is of necessity the water 
 in which we propose to grow trout. The phrase 
 " to grow trout," may seem an odd expression ; 
 but it is, nevertheless, perfectly correct. For, 
 just as in good soil, well manured, and with 
 favourable conditions of rainfall, &c., it is easy 
 to grow good seed and secure a heavy crop, so 
 in good water, with good eggs, and a liberal 
 supply of natural or artificial food, is it easy to 
 rear or grow trout to an extent, both of number 
 and size, which will fairly astonish those who are 
 unacquainted with the mysteries of trout-life. 
 To hatch the eggs we only require pure 
 
Preliminary Considerations. 13 
 
 water, of which the hatching-house should have 
 an ample supply. Whether this be derived 
 from stream or spring, is of small consequence 
 so long as the temperature be not liable to 
 sudden changes, as these are likely to interfere 
 with the gradual and even development of 
 the embryo. On the whole, therefore, we are 
 inclined to prefer spring water for our hatch- 
 ing operations. For rearing the fry when 
 removed from the hatching boxes, we also 
 require pure water, water that is free from pol- 
 lutions. But it should be well stocked with 
 insects and animalcules, as these afford a 
 constant supply of natural food for the young 
 fishes. It may be stream or spring water so 
 long as these conditions are fulfilled, and the 
 more nearly it approaches in its qualities to 
 that in which the eggs were hatched, the 
 nearer will it be to perfection as a receiving 
 
 stream. 
 
 % 
 
 Any little stream, possessing these characters, 
 
14 Trout Culture. 
 
 will answer for rearing purposes, and it should 
 have a moderate current, not too strong for 
 the very young fishes, but not still and lifeless 
 ripple and pool alternating form, perhaps, 
 the best home for fry, as they can then select 
 their own quarters. To be perfect in this respect 
 it should vary in depth from a few inches to 
 two feet, as this supplies all that is necessary for 
 the growth of trout to any size. 
 
 Next in importance to the quality of the 
 water is its quantity. This must be liberal and 
 constant, as a stinted or unequal supply, espe- 
 cially at the hatching-house, is very injurious. 
 Therefore, in planning an establishment this 
 point should be kept well in view, so as to 
 make sure that, under no circumstances, and by 
 no accident, can the supply run short. To have 
 to stint and starve the eggs, or to think of every 
 pint of water that can be scraped and saved, 
 adds greatly to the troubles of fish culture, 
 and detracts very much from the results, as 
 
Preliminary Considerations. 15 
 
 eggs hatched under unfavourable conditions will 
 never thrive nor do well. 
 
 The means of supply, again, forms a matter of 
 some importance. If the water be derived from 
 waterworks, it will, of course, only be neces- 
 sary to have it laid to the hatching-house, and 
 to see that the pipes are sufficiently large. 
 Hydraulic rams are expensive ; but if one be 
 already on the estate, should it throw plenty 
 of water, it may be used. However, there is 
 always an uncertainty about rams, as the least 
 thing puts them out of order, and it takes some 
 time to induce the machine to work when once 
 stopped. For instance, an eel gets under one of 
 the valves in the night and stops the machine, and 
 has to be removed by unseating the valve ; this 
 empties the pipes, which then become charged 
 with air, and it often takes some hours to force this 
 out, and to obtain a fresh supply of water. A 
 thaw after a sharp frost has almost always a very 
 injurious effect on the action of hydraulic rams. 
 
1 6 Trout Culture. 
 
 Where we can get satisfactory pumping 
 power, by hand, horse, or steam, and a cistern 
 of a sufficient size to hold twenty-four hours' 
 supply for the whole hatching operations, we 
 may be quite contented so far as water supply 
 is concerned. 
 
 Lead piping may be used with perfect safety 
 in fish culture, and junctions may also be made 
 with indiarubber piping, a great convenience 
 in altering or extemporizing apparatus. 
 
The Hatching- House. 1 7 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE HATCHING-HOUSE. 
 
 HAVING treated of the water supply, we next 
 pass on to the hatching-house, which may be of 
 brick, wood, or stone. Any out-building may 
 be turned to use if only it be well built, well 
 lighted, and well floored. It should be roomy, 
 as vast numbers of little odds and ends, such 
 as nets, tin cans, &c., are wont gradually to 
 accumulate. A neat dry locker or broad shelf 
 is very handy for nets, and tin cans should be 
 arranged in nests, one inside the other, if 
 possible. 
 
 A small stove by which to warm the hands 
 will be appreciated. The cistern or cisterns 
 should, if practicable, be inside the house ; but 
 on no account should these, or anything else, be 
 
 C 
 
1 8 Trout Culture. 
 
 allowed to obstruct the light. A dark hatching- 
 house is a misery and an abomination. As to the 
 size of the cistern or cisterns, that must be regu- 
 lated by the magnitude of the contemplated 
 operations ; whatever this may be, their capacity 
 should be ample. They may be made of wood, 
 lined with zinc or lead, or of galvanized iron. 
 
 Having got the cistern fixed, the next 
 thing is the filter ; and, in spite of all that 
 has been said in favour of flannel and sand 
 as the medium, we ourselves have great faith 
 in charcoal, and advise that the matter be en- 
 trusted to Mr. Fred Lipscombe, of 44, Queen 
 Victoria Street, Mansion House,. London. 
 
 In his hands we know we are safe, and if 
 the filter be examined and cleansed by a com- 
 petent person once or twice a year, a constant 
 supply of pure water is ensured. A good, 
 well-trapped drain must be constructed in such 
 a position as may be best fitted to receive the 
 waste water after it has done its work ; and it 
 
The Hatching- House. 19 
 
 will be a good plan to have the receiving surface 
 of the drain below that of the floor, and to 
 carry the waste pipes under the floor, thus 
 hiding an unsightly object, and preventing any 
 accidental trip of the foot when carrying eggs or 
 fry. The planks covering the drain and waste 
 pipes should be screwed to the joists, hot nailed, 
 so that if any obstruction occur they may at 
 once be removed. 
 
 The lighting should be ample, either from 
 skylights or side windows, as the construction of 
 the building may require, and it is advisable to 
 be able to cause a current of air to pass through- 
 out the building when desired. 
 
 Odds and ends will accumulate, and shelves 
 should be fitted up to receive them ; and a 
 strong bench well supported for pestle and 
 mortar, meat slicer, &c., will be found useful. 
 There should be a place for everything, and 
 everything should be in its place. Something 
 may be wanted in a hurry, and it should be 
 
 C 2 
 
2O Trout Culture. 
 
 at hand and in sight ; there should be no 
 rummaging and ransacking after it, as there is 
 sure to be, if one thing be piled on another. 
 
 A " round " towel may be suspended near the 
 little stove for drying the hands, and hand-bowls 
 are useful for many purposes. A mop for the 
 floor is always handy, as however carefully the 
 work is carried on, water is sure to be spilled, 
 and one is very liable to catch cold from 
 standing on a damp floor. 
 
 If these cardinal points have been attended to, 
 the intending breeder of fishes, whatever the 
 size of his contemplated operations, may look 
 around him with some satisfaction, as he may 
 feel sure that however he may wish to alter the 
 smaller details of his establishment, the main 
 plan need not be materially altered or dis- 
 turbed 
 
The Hatching Apparatus. 2 1 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE HATCHING APPARATUS. 
 
 IN this country troughs of wood, slate, or terra- 
 cotta are almost universally in use for this pur- 
 pose, and it must be confessed that for the 
 amateur, at any rate, they are unquestionably 
 the best and handiest form of apparatus. It 
 may be very different in large establishments, 
 where many hundreds of thousands of eggs are 
 annually received ; but, as this little work is in- 
 tended for the beginner and not for the pro- 
 fessional pisciculturist, we omit all mention of the 
 new American process and apparatus as foreign 
 to the nature of the work, especially as they have 
 not yet received a sufficient trial in this country. 
 Having thus determined on the employment 
 of troughs, the next question is the material best 
 
22 Trout Culture. 
 
 fitted to our purpose. Terra-cotta, slate, and 
 wood have been mentioned, but we feel disposed 
 to select slate for the use of the amateur as 
 being very clean, not so liable to break, chip, or 
 crack as terra-cotta or earthenware, and not so 
 likely to leak as wood. They are generally made 
 about two feet ten inches long, six inches wide, 
 with a depth of water of about three inches. They 
 can be obtained ready fitted with spouts from 
 the attendant or curator, Museum of Fish Cul- 
 ture, South Kensington ; or from Messrs. Beck 
 and Beck, Beck's Wharf, Isleworth ; and these, 
 where expense is no object, leave nothing to be 
 desired. They are arranged in tiers one above 
 the other, so that the spout of one will deliver to 
 the next below it. 
 
 If, however, expense be a matter of con- 
 sideration, wooden boxes may be used ; but 
 they must be very carefully made by a good 
 carpenter, and very accurately fitted with tongue 
 and groove joints ; these joints dressed with red- 
 
The Hatching Apparatus. 
 
 lead, nailed up tightly, and pitched inside and out ; 
 but even with all these precautions they often 
 leak. Before being pitched, however, the spouts 
 must be fitted ; these consist of pieces of f-inch 
 lead pipe, about five inches long, tapered down at 
 one end with a penknife, and slightly bent along 
 their whole length. A hole is then bored with a 
 stock and bit, the centre of which should be 
 about three inches from the bottom of the inside 
 of the box, and the pipe must be screwed and 
 pressed into the hole until a small portion pro- 
 trudes into the box ; this is to be flattened out 
 around the edge of the hole so as to form a sort of 
 rivet to hold the spout in position, and to prevent 
 leakage. These boxes may obviously be made 
 of any size four and a half inches is a convenient 
 height and the length and breadth may be ar- 
 ranged to suit the requirements of the building. 
 They are, however, so liable to leak, or what is 
 technically called " sweat," that they are not 
 recommended. 
 
24 Trout Culture. 
 
 A good strong framework must be arranged 
 to support the troughs, of whatever material 
 they are constructed. It should resemble 
 a staircase, the steps being of the width of 
 the troughs, and arranged at such a height 
 relatively to one another that the spout of each 
 trough may properly deliver its water into that 
 below it. 
 
 When filling up an apparatus Mr. Edon sug- 
 gests that a lead pipe should be attached to the 
 water supply and carried along the whole length 
 of the back inner edge of each trough, being 
 twisted over the ends and so brought down to 
 / the trough below. The other, or free end, is 
 squeezed together with pincers, and thus closed 
 water-tight. Small perforations are then made 
 with a fine pointed awl or other instrument, and 
 this gives a thorough aeration to the whole of 
 the water in each trough, and an equal supply 
 of fresh water throughout the apparatus. In 
 slate tanks or troughs the pipe may be fastened 
 
The Hatching Apparatus. 25 
 
 to the back edge by straps of lead passed round 
 the pipe and turned over the edge ; in wooden 
 boxes by small tenter-hooks. This idea of Mr. 
 Edon is truly valuable. It has been used at the 
 writer's establishment, and found eminently 
 useful. The spout of the bottom trough must 
 be connected by indiarubber pipe, or otherwise, 
 to a waste pipe leading to the drain, and of the 
 same size as the spout. 
 
 In slate troughs, in order to confine the little 
 fish after hatching, a light wooden frame, 
 covered with fine perforated zinc, must be fitted 
 just above the spout of the lowest trough, and 
 also at any other point if desired, so as to 
 separate the various species, if more than one 
 is being hatched in the same apparatus. In 
 wooden troughs the zinc or gauze may be care- 
 fully nailed directly on to the wood, after being 
 pitched ; but must not be fastened flat on to the 
 wood, but curved outwards a little so as not to 
 cause too great a suction or draught of water, or 
 
26 Trout Culture. 
 
 else the fishes will be carried on to the stream 
 and killed, and their bodies will block the screen 
 and cause an overflow, thereby adding mate- 
 rially to the loss. 
 
 The zinc or gauze must be very fine, with holes 
 no more than one-sixteenth or one thirty-second 
 of an inch, as the fry have a tendency to work 
 down stream, and will seek for any small aperture 
 through which they can wriggle themselves, and 
 will follow each other out in this manner if they 
 can only find a crevice, to an extent which, how- 
 ever creditable to their ingenuity, is a sad loss 
 to the breeder. Every care should therefore be 
 taken to prevent this, and all should be- made 
 perfectly secure before the water is turned on. 
 
 High authorities state that fishes' eggs should 
 be covered over and hatched in the dark. 
 Light covers should therefore be provided, and 
 they should have a hole or slot in them to per- 
 mit the water to enter from the spout above. 
 
 The lids and lead pipes should have two 
 
The Hatching Apparatus. 2 7 
 
 coats of a varnish, composed of two-thirds gas- 
 tar and one-third turpentine, in order to prevent 
 the oxidation of the lead, which is hurtful, and 
 also to avoid the growth of slime or " fungus " 
 on the wet surface of the wood. 
 
 The last point to be touched upon is the 
 gravel. 
 
 This should be small about the size of split 
 peas. It may often be found lying loose 
 on garden walks, and ought to be collected in 
 dry weather ; well washed, till the washing v 
 water runs off clear ; and then boiled in a sauce- 
 pan or copper, in order to destroy any germs 
 of life which may remain in it. When cool it 
 should be washed once more in filtered water, 
 and it is then fit for use. A few days before 
 eggs are expected, a thin layer is spread over 
 the bottom of the trough, just enough to prevent 
 its being seen, not more. The water may then 
 be turned on a little to season the apparatus, 
 which will then be ready for use. 
 
28 Trout Culture. 
 
 In addition to his other apparatus the fish- 
 breeder will require a few (one or two) glass 
 tubes for moving and examining eggs and fry. 
 No description need be given of them, as the 
 curator of the Museum of Fish Culture at South 
 Kensington always has a stock for sale. They 
 are used as follows : The tube is lightly held 
 by the third and fourth fingers of the right 
 hand, in such a manner that the thumb can 
 easily close the end ; the thumb being pressed 
 on the end, the bent part is thrust gently into 
 the water towards the eggs or fry to be lifted. 
 The thumb is then suddenly removed from the 
 end of the tube for a moment, when the water 
 and eggs, &c, will rush up. The thumb is again 
 applied, and the other end of the tube raised by 
 a circular motion of the wrist, when its contents 
 may be examined, and, on removing the thumb, 
 may be returned to the trough or any other 
 vessel. A few trials give dexterity in the use of 
 this serviceable little piece of apparatus. A few 
 
The Hatching Apparatus. 29 
 
 feathers stripped to within an inch of the end, 
 and used for moving eggs under water, are also 
 of service. A pair of spring forceps or nippers 
 will also be required for picking out dead eggs, 
 &c. They should be about six or seven inches 
 long, and have rounded points : they may be 
 obtained at the surgical instrument makers' 
 shops. 
 
 The above is all that will be required for 
 those who buy eggs and hatch them out Those 
 who spawn their own fishes will require small 
 flue or trammel nets of a suitable size to stretch 
 across the little spawning streams up which the 
 trout run to spawn. They will also need one or 
 two landing nets fixed on to iron frames, fitted 
 with light poles for handles. The writer uses 
 frames two feet wide by one foot in depth, the 
 bottom of the frame, or the side opposite the 
 handle, being square, so as to scoop well under 
 a fish ; and by this means a pair of fish may be 
 frequently caught, as they are too intent on 
 
3O Trout Cultur.e. 
 
 their own affairs to notice anything else. The 
 irons or frames are punched with holes at in- 
 tervals of about an inch, by which the net is 
 attached to them with iron or copper wire. 
 
 Two or three tin or galvanized iron foot-pans, 
 to hold the fish when caught, and two or three 
 Yorkshire pudding dishes, to act as spawning 
 tins or pans, will also be required ; together 
 with a light can to hold the washed eggs, and a 
 mug to wash them with. 
 
 Whilst mentioning the spawning apparatus, 
 it will not be out of place to refer to the boxes 
 in which fry may be kept, and which are very 
 convenient at spawning time, when the fry (or 
 yearlings rather) have been turned out into 
 the open streams ; they are handy recipients 
 for unripe fish, and those which are ripe, but 
 which it is not convenient to spawn at the 
 moment. Their size may be made to suit the 
 little streams, and the length may vary from 
 twelve to twenty feet, as the fancy and re- 
 
The Hatching Apparatus. 3 1 
 
 quirements of the owner may direct. They 
 should have lids of open skeleton framework, 
 carefully covered with fine wire netting to 
 keep out the kingfishers, for these pests 
 clear out boxes at a marvellous rate if once 
 they get to know their way into them. The 
 writer speaks from bitter experience on this 
 point, and can personally vouch for the in- 
 sidious character of this the most beautiful 
 of British birds. The ends of the boxes 
 should have frames sliding in grooves, on 
 which perforated zinc can be fastened ; the 
 size of the perforations in this will vary, of 
 course, with that of the fish : fry, at first, one- 
 sixteenth of an inch ; after they have grown 
 somewhat, one-eighth ; and for spawning fish, 
 three-sixteenths or one-fourth of an inch. In 
 some waters zinc, especially if perforated, is so 
 powerfully acted upon that in six months it 
 crumbles away. In these iron may be used, as 
 water that corrodes zinc has no action on iron. 
 
32 Trout Culture. 
 
 Perforated iron is of course more expensive, 
 but in such cases we have ho alternative, ex- 
 cept that of constantly renewing the zinc, which 
 would soon outrun the prime cost of the iron. 
 
Spawning. 33 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SPAWNING. 
 
 WHEN cold weather fairly sets in, sooner or 
 later, according to river and season, the trout 
 run up into the small side streams, where shallow, 
 rippling water and bright gravel are to be 
 found. Sometimes they come up together in 
 pairs, sometimes singly. In some years the 
 spawning season lasts only a fortnight ; in 
 others, as last year, for eight or ten weeks. 
 This mainly depends on the weather and the 
 state of the main stream. Before the fish come 
 up, the mud should be cleared away, overgrown 
 weeds cleared out, and the gravel raked over, so 
 as to be inviting to them, Shelter of some sort 
 should be given to induce the fish to stop near 
 the beds. Broken or old drain pipes may be 
 
 D 
 
34 Trout C^llture. 
 
 provided, and boards may be moored in the 
 stream for them to lie under. 
 
 When " up " on the beds, which may be seen 
 at a glance, as the cock trout, or milter, works 
 the gravel into heaps, the nets must be got out 
 and the fish caught. One of the little flue or 
 trammel nets should be set at each end of the 
 beds, and then the shelters or covers of the beds 
 may be cautiously removed, when the fish will 
 fly into the nets. By the deft use of the large 
 landing nets, pairs of fish may be caught as they 
 lie in the stream ; but it is always advisable to 
 have the trammels set, as then there is no risk 
 of escape. 
 
 If there are any holes under the banks made 
 by water-rats they should be examined, as trout 
 frequent them. If the net will not reach right 
 to the end of the hole, the arm must be thrust 
 in, and the hand will often find a fish at the end 
 of the opening : the hand is passed gently along 
 so as to be able to grasp the fish just above the 
 
Spawning. 35 
 
 tail, it is then suddenly closed, and the fish 
 "tailed out " on to the bank, and 'put into a tub 
 or foot-pan of water whilst others are sought 
 for. 
 
 When all have been caught, the sexes should 
 be determined, and the unripe fish, if any, 
 transferred to the box mentioned at the end of 
 the previous chapter. 
 
 The sexes are readily distinguished, as at 
 spawning time the eggs will be felt in the 
 spawner or hen fish, whilst in the male the milt 
 being a liquid, is easily recognized. In taking a 
 fish out of a net, if in anything like proper order 
 for spawning, a few eggs or a drop of milt will 
 generally appear, even with the gentlest hand- 
 ling. Unless a fish is thoroughly ripe it should 
 be kept #1 the box till it is so, as unripe eggs 
 or milt are quite useless for hatching purposes. 
 
 When the sexes are determined, and the 
 ripe fish separated, we have to consider the pro- 
 portionate numbers of each sex. Some days we 
 
 D 2 
 
36 Trout Culture. 
 
 have more cocks than hens, others the reverse, or 
 even all hens and no cocks. As one cock will, if 
 " full," suffice to impregnate two, or even three, 
 hens, it is advisable if possible to reserve a 
 cock in case of being short of milt on a future 
 occasion. 
 
 Having mentioned all this, we will suppose 
 that proper arrangements have been made, and 
 that the actual process of spawning is being 
 carried out. The spawning tin or pan is either 
 laid on the ground or on a box, tilted a little to 
 one end by a stone or stick, quite dry. A hen 
 fish is taken out of the tub and allowed to kick 
 about for a few seconds [to render it less difficult 
 to hold, and induce it to yield its eggs more 
 freely. The spawner then, with a piece of flan- 
 nel, holds the he.ad of the fish carefully, but 
 firmly, in his left hand, and his assistant keeps 
 it extended by grasping it just above the tail, 
 but below the vent, a piece of flannel being 
 used to secure a firm grasp. The fish is held 
 
Spawning. 3 7 
 
 sideways, with the vent as near the bottom of 
 the spawning pan as possible, and the spawner 
 with his right hand strips the fish. Some 
 operators begin at the upper end of the ovary, 
 which extends nearly to the pectoral fin, and 
 carry the pressure gently, but quickly, to the 
 vent, only using the thumb and fourth finger. 
 Others first press out the eggs nearest the vent 
 and then work up the ovary, squeezing the eggs 
 out portion by portion until all are removed. 
 So long as no backward pressure is allowed, 
 which would injure the fish, this is a good 
 method. 
 
 Whatever plan be adopted, it must be carried 
 out rapidly and gently : if the fish be faint, or 
 refuses to yield all its eggs, it must be put into a 
 vessel of fresh water for a few minutes, whilst 
 another hen is stripped, by which time it will 
 probably have recovered, and can be completely 
 emptied. When one or two hens have been 
 stripped, the cock is held over the eggs, and his 
 
38 Trout Culture. 
 
 milt taken in the same way, except that the 
 testes or milt bags do not extend so far up the 
 fish as ovaries ; in fact, not much more than half- 
 way between the vent and pectoral fins. When 
 spawned, each fish should be carefully returned 
 to the water, and, if faint, supported between two 
 stones, head up stream, until able to look after 
 itself. When the milt has been taken, the pan 
 should be tilted a little so as to mix the milt 
 with the eggs, and then left a minute or two ; 
 after which a little water must be added, enough 
 to cover the eggs, and the pan set aside until 
 the eggs (which at first cohere very strongly) 
 have completely separated. They may then be 
 washed with clean water, once or twice changed, 
 and be transferred to the egg can. This should 
 be filled with water, and the eggs poured into it 
 from an angle of the spawning pan. They at 
 once sink to the bottom, and the superfluous 
 water runs over the side. The separation of the 
 eggs takes from ten to twenty minutes, and this 
 
Spawning. 39 
 
 interval may be used in spawning other trout, if 
 at hand. 
 
 Some operators spawn all their fish in one 
 pan, but we think the course above suggested 
 preferable for many reasons. The eggs of two 
 hens are, in our opinion, enough to have in one 
 pan ; but, if short of milt, of course if there are 
 three, or even four hens to one cock, all must be 
 spawned in one pan. 
 
 We should advise anyone intending to spawn 
 fish to have a look at the casts in the Museum 
 of Fish Culture, South Kensington. He will 
 there see exactly how the organs of generation 
 are placed in the salmonidae, and will gain a 
 good deal of useful information on that and 
 other points by his visit. 
 
 By the old, or wet method, now almost, if not 
 quite, obsolete, the fish and the hands of the 
 operator were plunged in a vessel of water, the 
 eggs taken were very carefully washed, and then 
 the milt was stripped into a separate vessel of 
 
4O Trout Culture. 
 
 water and mixed with the eggs. A hatch of 
 sixty per cent, was thought very good in those 
 days, and so undoubtedly it was, if the result be 
 regarded by the light of our modern knowledge. 
 The thing would seem to be almost impossible, 
 but for one fact lately made public by Mr. 
 Jackson, of the Southport Aquarium, whose 
 microscopic investigations of the movements of 
 milt in water are very important. He tells us 
 that when milt finds itself in water the sperma- 
 tozoa distribute themselves throughout it, each 
 keeping an equal distance from the other, so as 
 to miss nothing. In fact, he compares the 
 appearance of these objects, seen in the field of 
 a microscope, with the patterns of shot, as ad- 
 vertised by makers of close-shooting guns ; but 
 points out that the regularity of the distance of 
 the spermatozoa from each other was almost, if 
 not quite, invariably observed, each one main- 
 taining its position relatively to the rest, as the 
 milt spread through the water. This is a matter 
 
Spawning. 41 
 
 of the greatest importance, and should receive 
 further attention, as it leads us to a clearer com- 
 prehension of the manner in which eggs are 
 naturally fertilized in a stream, and cannot fail 
 to be of great interest to the student of 
 physiology. 
 
 We have said that under the old regime sixty 
 per cent, was thought good. By degrees, how- 
 ever, less water was employed, and the result 
 was found to justify the innovation ; so that, 
 gradually one vessel was substituted for two, 
 and very little water was used. The veteran 
 pioneer in pisciculture, Seth Green, found this 
 out many years ago, as Mr. Stone tells us in 
 ' Domesticated Trout ' ; and, though ready to 
 impart any other fact to others, he carefully kept 
 this to himself, saying that it was as good as a 
 patent to him, and so it was. However, before 
 the advent of the Russian method, men on this 
 side of the Atlantic had come to the same con- 
 clusion, and eighty per cent, of impregnation 
 
42 Trout Culture. 
 
 had been reached ; aye, ninety also, but only 
 by old and knowing operators. By the new 
 process the mere tyro may obtain ninety or 
 ninety-five per cent. 
 
 The following account showing the discovery 
 and superiority of the " Russian " or dry method 
 of spawning was printed in the ' New York 
 Citizen and Round Table,' May 27, 1871, and 
 published in ' Domesticated Trout,' by L. Stone: 
 
 " In his experiments, M. Vrasski had followed 
 the counsels given in French and German works 
 on pisciculture, but the results obtained were 
 far from being brilliant. In reality, at each 
 hatching, he obtained but an insignificant 
 number. ' From many thousands of eggs,' 
 says he in a letter, 'there were only some 
 dozens of young fry. The rest of the eggs 
 were lost and spoilt for want of being impreg- 
 nated. I have, however, followed with scru- 
 pulous exactness all the directions given in the 
 manuals for fecundation.' In the autumn of 
 
Spawning. 43 
 
 1856, M. Vrasski was occupied with the micro- 
 scopic examination of the eggs and milt, and 
 kept a journal in which he registered the least 
 circumstances and incidents relative to each 
 fecundation that he effected. Two months of 
 persistent efforts brought the desired results. 
 The journal and the microscope proved to him 
 that the cause of his failure proceeded precisely 
 from the exact observation of all the counsels 
 of the foreign manuals. It is necessary for 
 fecundation that the spermatozoa of the milt 
 of the male should penetrate the eggs of the 
 female. In order to do this, the manuals 
 recommended receiving the eggs in a vessel of 
 water ; afterwards, to receive in another vessel 
 of water the milt of the male ; and, lastly, 
 to turn the diluted milt on to the eggs. By 
 his journal, kept with scrupulous exactness, 
 M. Vrasski convinced himself that the fecunda- 
 tion was so much the less complete, according 
 as the mixture of the milt and eggs had been 
 
44 Trout Culture. 
 
 the most delayed. If ten minutes elapsed 
 between obtaining the milt and the mixing of 
 it with the eggs, the fecundation failed almost 
 entirely. His observations, and the microscopic 
 researches of the eggs and milt, showed that ; 
 
 " First. When received in water at the moment 
 of issuing from the fish, the eggs absorb the water, 
 and preserve the power of being impregnated 
 only as long as this absorption is not finished : 
 that is to say, during a half hour at the utmost. 
 Once saturated with water, the eggs do not 
 absorb any spermatozoa : but if received into 
 dry vessels on issuing from the fish, the eggs 
 remain, on the contrary, in a neutral state 
 for a lengthened time, and do not lose the 
 power, when placed in water, of receiving the 
 spermatozoa. 
 
 "Second. The spermatozoa of the milt, in 
 falling into the water, commence immediately, 
 with much vigour and rapidity, to make move- 
 ments, which only last, however, for a minute 
 
Spawning. 45 
 
 and a half, or two at the most ; when this time 
 is elapsed, only- in some few spermatozoa can 
 there be seen particular movements and agonized 
 convulsions. 
 
 " When, at the issuing from the fish, the milt 
 is received in a dry vessel, it does not change 
 for many hours, and during this interval the 
 spermatozoa do not use the power of beginning 
 to move as they do when placed in contact 
 with water. Closed in a dry vial, and well 
 corked, the milt preserves its impregnating 
 virtue during six days. 
 
 " From these observations, as also from the 
 fact that the eggs as well as the milt are ob- 
 tained slowly, their entire mass not being able 
 to issue at once, M. Vrasski arrived at the 
 conclusion, that when they were received in 
 water, the greater part of the eggs attempted 
 to saturate themselves with it, and the sperma- 
 tozoa ceased to move almost before it was pos- 
 sible for the fish-breeder to mix the eggs with 
 
46 Trout Culture. 
 
 the diluted milt. M. Vrasski then adopted 
 the system of dry vessels, and turned the milt 
 on the eggs directly he put them in water. 
 The success was complete : all the eggs were 
 impregnated without one exception." 
 
 The above speaks for itself, so that all we 
 need further do is to congratulate M. Vrasski 
 on his success, and thank Mr. George Shephard 
 Page for publishing them in America, whence we 
 have received them through the Rev. L. Stone, 
 an eminent American pisciculturist. 
 
 To revert to the eggs which we left in the 
 egg can. This must be carried home carefully, 
 and its contents distributed in the troughs by 
 the aid of the glass tube ; the covers are then 
 to be placed on the troughs, and a good supply 
 of water turned on. In arranging eggs in 
 troughs it is always advisable to fill from the 
 lowest upwards, as by this means the shells 
 of the first hatched lot do not interfere with 
 those eggs which hatch later on. 
 
Spawning. 47 
 
 As to the number of eggs to be allowed to a 
 square foot of trough, to secure perfect health 
 and strength, we should recommend that the 
 number should be restricted to a thousand, 
 which is a perfectly safe number; and is, after 
 all, amply sufficient for the private hatching- 
 house, in which quality, not quantity, is the 
 great object in view. 
 
 In arranging eggs a feather may be of great 
 service, if lightly used ; as, by its means, the 
 eggs may be easily separated, so that no two 
 may touch each other. They will hatch out 
 better for this, as each egg will have a current 
 of oxygen-bearing water passing all round it, 
 which cannot be the case when all the eggs are 
 left in heaps. 
 
 The operator should be very careful to see 
 that the eggs are well and carefully cleansed 
 before distributing them in the troughs, as the 
 object in view is to have eggs, gravel, and water 
 in the apparatus, and nothing else. 
 
\ 
 
 48 Trout Culture. 
 
 Eggs are a favourite prey of a number, of 
 enemies. Some fish prefer them to any other 
 sort of food, , and rats or mice will eat them 
 greedily if they get a chance. Care should 
 therefore be taken to keep the troughs closely 
 covered if peril be apprehended from the latter 
 source. 
 
Hatching. 49 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 HATCHING. 
 
 IF everything were quite right, hatching would 
 be a very easy affair. If every egg were impreg- 
 nated, and no enemies existed, the fish-hatcher's 
 labours would be light indeed ; but this is not 
 always the case, especially at first. If, however, 
 the directions about the spawning be faithfully 
 carried out, and the hatching apparatus fitted as 
 above advised, we may safely anticipate good 
 results. 
 
 When the eggs are once placed in the hatching 
 troughs, they must remain there until hatched, 
 or at any rate until the eyes of the embryo are 
 distinctly visible through the shell. When thus 
 " eyed " they may be moved carefully, if needful, 
 and even packed in moss and sent long dis- 
 
 E 
 
50 Trout Culture. 
 
 tances ; but, excepting when sending a present 
 of eggs to a friend, there will never be any 
 necessity for doing so in the private hatching- 
 house, and the eggs should be left at rest until 
 hatched out. 
 
 They must, however, be daily examined, and 
 all dead eggs carefully removed with the forceps 
 or nippers ; and great care must be taken at 
 first in doing this so as not to injure a living 
 one near it, and hence the benefit of spread- 
 ing the eggs at first, and once for all, with a 
 feather or otherwise, when laying them in the 
 trough. 
 
 If kept in heaps the feather is used to spread 
 them, and thus the odds are that a second one 
 is formed, and the daily examination is much 
 prolonged, to say nothing of the bother of 
 always having a feather in hand when examin- 
 ing the eggs. 
 
 The tyro will naturally ask, " How am I to 
 tell a dead from a living egg ? " Let him have 
 
Hatching. 5 1 
 
 no anxiety about that, as a dead egg can be 
 told in a second, even by an inexperienced eye. 
 A good living egg is translucent, and has a 
 beautiful bloom on it like that of a ripe Muscat 
 grape ; a dead egg is opaque and white, and 
 when once seen can never be mistaken. 
 
 These dead eggs should be picked out care- 
 fully every day, as, if left in the water, a species 
 of alga grows upon .them, and spreads over the 
 living eggs in their vicinity, and by killing them 
 would, if left alone, in time do incalculable 
 mischief. 
 
 Every care, therefore, should be taken to 
 secure a perfect impregnation, as the more 
 successful it is, the less labour will there be in 
 removing blind eggs ; and this labour is of no 
 pleasant kind, as the work has to be done with 
 the hands, dabbling in the water very often 
 with the air below the freezing point, and the 
 running water very little above it. 
 
 If, however, ripe milt and eggs have been 
 
 E 2 
 
52 Trout Culture. 
 
 used, and all has been done well, the labours 
 of the day will be very light, and the sense of 
 success will buoy up the heart under any little 
 hardship or difficulty. 
 
 It has been said before that the eggs when 
 once placed in the box or trough must remain 
 undisturbed until fully eyed, if not hatched. 
 Too much stress cannot be laid on this point, as, 
 if moved before they have eyed out, fully one- 
 half of the eggs are sure to die. It seems 
 strange that what kills one egg will not destroy 
 another ; it may, however, we think be at- 
 tributed to the greater natural vitality of some 
 eggs than of others. Some will, perhaps, at- 
 tribute it to a faulty impregnation ; but we 
 think, under the dry system this can hardly be 
 the case. Whatever the theory used to account 
 for it, the fact remains ; and all care and pre- 
 vision should be taken to prevent a necessity 
 arising for taking so perilous a step. 
 
 If the eggs appear to be dirty, or covered 
 
Hatching. 53 
 
 with a fine dust or sediment, a watering pot, 
 with a rose bearing very small perforations, 
 should be employed to wash it off; but if the 
 filter be Lipscombe's, and the covers kept 
 closely on, there will be little chance of this 
 occurring ; however, should there be the slightest 
 appearance of it when the eggs are examined in 
 the glass tube, the remedy should be promptly 
 administered, as sediment is a very dangerous 
 thing, for it chokes the eggs by preventing the 
 free absorption of oxygen from the water, on 
 which the health and development of the 
 embryo so much depend. Dirty eggs may 
 hatch, but will never thrive. 
 
 Should the purchase of " eyed ova " be made, 
 any fresh variety be introduced, or a greater 
 stock be required than the river itself will sup- 
 ply, they will generally be received packed in 
 round tin boxes, either loose, in wet moss, or 
 enclosed in folds of muslin or mosquito netting, 
 with layers of wet moss above and below them. 
 
\ 
 
 54 Trout Culture. 
 
 The tin has holes in the bottom, and must be 
 put into a vessel rather deeper than itself, and 
 water must be added ; when, on removing the 
 lid and top layer of moss, the water will work up 
 through the holes in the bottom and cover the 
 eggs. If these be loose, as much as possible of 
 the moss and all the heavy parts of it having 
 been removed, the whole arrangement is to be 
 carried under a tap and a gentle stream of 
 water directed to one side of the vessel ; this will 
 drive over the moss, with the assistance perhaps 
 of a feather, and the eggs will settle in a state of 
 purity ; they may then be quickly transferred to 
 a trough, or be w r ashed further in any other 
 vessel, as may be convenient. 
 
 When muslin is used, the moss is cleared 
 away till the muslin appears, and all moss 
 adhering to it is removed ; then the edges are 
 folded together, and the whole lifted out and 
 shaken, and gently separated in a vessel of pure 
 water ; the eggs sink, and any floating moss 
 
Hatching. 5 5 
 
 may be driven over as before, after all the layers 
 of eggs have been shaken out in the water. 
 
 In sending eggs away the reverse operation is 
 performed. The tin is sunk in a vessel of water, 
 then a layer of soft, well-washed Sphagnum 
 moss is put on the bottom, then one fold of 
 muslin, then the eggs are carefully distributed 
 over this with a glass tube, and arranged with a 
 feather or thin glass rod, so that no two eggs are 
 in contact, then a second fold of muslin, and the 
 operation repeated as before till completed. 
 Next, a good thick layer of moss is put on and 
 the box drained ; then, should the moss have 
 sunk down, it is topped up with a fresh layer to 
 completely fill the box, and the lid is put on. 
 Finally the tin is packed firmly in sawdust, 
 in a wooden box, the lid screwed down, and 
 sent off. 
 
 In estimating the number of eggs in a fish, the 
 rule is that one thousand eggs go to a pound of 
 weight. Thus a half-pound fish will have five 
 
56 Trout Culture. 
 
 hundred ; a pounder, one thousand ; a two 
 pounder, two thousand, and so on. 
 
 American trout eggs take very nearly, if not 
 quite, the same time, under similar conditions, 
 to hatcl) out as those of this country. Mr. Seth 
 Green, no mean authority, says that in water at 
 50 Fahr., the eggs will hatch in fifty days, and 
 every degree warmer OF colder makes five days 
 difference, the eggs hatching earlier in warmer, 
 and being retarded in their development in 
 colder water. Mr. Green also says that if the 
 eggs hatch in fifty days, the yolk sac lasts thirty ; 
 if hatched in seventy days, the sac remains forty- 
 five. We are indebted to Mr. Stone for this 
 information, which will be found generally 
 reliable, though subject to alteration or modifi- 
 cation by circumstances. 
 
 Seasons vary, and times of spawning vary 
 (though within comparatively narrow limits), 
 consequently no hard and fast rule as to time 
 of incubation can be laid down. Late eggs may 
 
Hatching. 5 7 
 
 very likely hatch in a far shorter time than 
 early ones, as the water at the end of February, 
 and in March and April, will be warming up, 
 and consequently the development of the em- 
 bryo will be more rapid. 
 
 No one, however, should be anxious to 
 see the eggs hatch out quickly ; the more 
 slowly they hatch the better, healthier, and 
 stronger will the fish be. If the eggs have 
 " eyed " out strongly, and the form of the fish 
 be dark and lusty in the egg, let no one have 
 any anxiety about earliness of breaking the 
 shell. 
 
 Some day or other a little dark-looking thing 
 will be seen in one or other of the troughs, and 
 an attempt be made to remove it with the 
 nippers, when the little object will wriggle away 
 and seek protection amongst the eggs. These 
 at this period appear much swollen, and of 
 a tint and with a bloom like a ripe peach. 
 On examining the little stranger in the glass 
 
58 Trout Culture. 
 
 tube, it will appear as a mere threadlike body, 
 with two very prominent eyes, resting on a 
 round yellow ball of oil. On using a lens it 
 will be seen that the blood-vessels are spread 
 out into and over this vesicle of oil or yolk, 
 whence the necessary food is obtained in this, 
 which is called the " Alevin " stage of a trout's 
 existence. 
 
 Nature thus caters for the young fish for 
 from a month to seven or eight weeks, according 
 to temperature ; heat accelerating and cold 
 retarding the consumption of the oil in the 
 vesicle and the development of the body. 
 Having all its needs supplied, it rests pretty 
 quietly for a day or two, and only wriggles 
 at intervals ; but about the fifth day from the 
 general hatching out of that batch of eggs, a 
 general desire to hide becomes manifest. Ac- 
 cordingly in every angle of the trough, except 
 where the water is disturbed by the stream 
 falling in from the trough above, there will be 
 
Hatching. 59 
 
 seen a writhing, wriggling mass of alevins, each 
 trying with might and main to hide itself under 
 its neighbours, all heads directed towards the 
 corner, and the strongest youngsters lying in, 
 until forced out by superior numbers ; and this 
 goes on for some time, it may be a fortnight or 
 three weeks, according to the temperature of 
 the water. During this time the alevins will 
 have gained greatly in size, grace, and sym- 
 metry. They will have become wonderfully 
 active, swimming rapidly up and down the 
 tube, and their fins will be seen to have grown, 
 and the tail developed to a surprising extent. 
 The umbilical sac or vesicle, too, will have half, 
 or more than half disappeared, having been 
 gradually absorbed during this period, to yield 
 the necessary nourishment for the evolution of 
 the various organs of the fish, which were at 
 first in a rudimentary state. 
 
 After this they gradually separate, leaving 
 the corners of the trough and covering its whole 
 
60 Troiit Culture. 
 
 length at pretty even distances, having the ap- 
 pearance, at a distance, of extra thick black 
 pins. They do not move much now ; however, 
 on looking over them a few will be seen in 
 motion at intervals ; but it can scarcely be 
 realized that these seemingly impotent creatures 
 will, in a week or two, be in incessant motion ; 
 yet such is the case, as the rest appears to be 
 needed for the complete development of the 
 swimming apparatus ; when this is duly fur- 
 nished, they will be seen to rise spontaneously 
 in the water, and stem the stream flowing over 
 them ; though they still carry a vestige of the 
 umbilical vesicle or sac. 
 
 There is hardly a more enjoyable sight in 
 store for the breeder of trout than to see a 
 trough full of young trout balancing themselves 
 in the water, with every fin in action, now stem- 
 ming the stream as it runs in from above, and 
 then retiring to a quieter place to recover them- 
 selves after the exertion. 
 
Hatching. 6 1 
 
 Now and for some time after, a great ten- 
 dency will be manifested by the young fish to 
 go down stream, especially at night. The writer 
 has almost emptied the bottom trough of a 
 series, and next morning has found it crowded 
 with others. Every effort and much ingenuity 
 will be evinced by the fish ; therefore the 
 greatest care should be taken to see that no 
 chance fault or flaw is left uncared for in the 
 outlet screen, or great will be the loss, as the 
 trout will follow each other like a flock of 
 sheep, if once an opening be discovered. This 
 is a very pleasant time for the fish-breeder ; 
 the fish require no food as yet, and very few 
 die ; so that he has only to look over his stock 
 every day, to pick out any chance dead ones 
 carefully, and to admire the wealth of life 
 moving beneath his eyes. 
 
 Before closing this chapter, to treat of the' 
 method of feeding and rearing the completely 
 formed fish, we think it advisable to repeat two 
 
62 Trout Culture. 
 
 or three of the chief points in hatching, on 
 
 * 
 
 which success depends. 
 
 Have everything in perfect order before com- 
 mencing operations, and the water running 
 gently through the apparatus a day or two 
 before eggs are expected. Use only freely 
 flowing eggs and milt, use a sufficiency of the 
 latter, leave eggs and milt together for a minute 
 or two, and, on adding water, let the eggs 
 separate perfectly before cleansing. 
 
 On no account move eggs about till well 
 " eyed," and pick out dead ones daily. 
 
Rearing. 63 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 REARING. 
 
 WHEN the umbilical sac or vesicle has quite 
 disappeared, and the young fry can swim 
 actively about, the time will have come for 
 feeding to commence. 
 
 No one need have any anxiety as to how 
 soon to offer food, as the fry will plainly show 
 when they are inclined for it, by darting at any 
 little insect or other small object floating on 
 the water. Throw a few gnats on the water, 
 if there be any uncertainty, or cast in a very few 
 small blood-worms, and, if ready for their meal, 
 the fry will cause a total disappearance of gnat 
 or worm in a marvellously short time. 
 
 It is wise at this time daily to test the 
 most forward lot in this manner, as some of the 
 
64 Trout Culture. 
 
 fry are sure to be more forward than others and 
 require food sooner. Whenever a lot of fish 
 show themselves ready to feed they must have 
 a regular supply of it daily at proper intervals. 
 
 The most " growing " food for trout is 
 insects, as proved by experiments of Mr. Stod- 
 dart, who confined three lots of fish in three 
 tanks, feeding one lot on worms, another on live 
 minnows, and the third on insects : those fed 
 on insects outweighed the other two lots put 
 together. 
 
 Where gnats are to be found in large swarms, 
 and when there, is plenty of leisure to secure 
 a supply with an insect net, they form a 
 first-rate food, as the fry are very fond of them, 
 grow very rapidly on them, and get into the 
 habit of " rising to the fly," which is a great 
 advantage to them in after life, when turned 
 loose to shift for themselves. 
 
 Unless, however, the supply is perfectly 
 ample, the fish-rearer had better look elsewhere 
 
Rearing. 65 
 
 for his commissariat, and reserve the gnats, &c., 
 for a relish, as whatever else may form the 
 staple of the diet, they are always a very wel- 
 come addition. In catching gnats a common 
 gauze entomologist's net is used, and when 
 caught they may be killed by confining them 
 in the end of the net with one hand and striking 
 it with the other. 
 
 Failing gnats, blood-worms are the best and 
 most nourishing food. They are obtained from 
 the mud of the Thames, and doubtless might be 
 found elsewhere. They may be procured from 
 the curator, Museum of Fish Culture, South 
 Kensington, and elsewhere ; but the writer can 
 only say that those he has obtained at the 
 museum are the best. They must be kept in a 
 good sized vessel, so that they can spread out, 
 and must have running water, or they soon die, 
 and yield by their decomposition a most painful 
 odour, sickening in the extreme. As long as 
 they are healthy they will clump up together, 
 
66 Trout Culture. 
 
 and present a beautiful appearance. A portion 
 of the clump is to be torn off and given to the 
 fish, care being taken, especially at first, to 
 spread them about in the water, so that the fry 
 can get at them easily, and share alike. 
 
 Three or four meals a day are quite enough at 
 first, and the worms or gnats (or both) should 
 be continued for six or eight weeks, till the fry 
 have grown plump and strong and are able to 
 take larger food. 
 
 But before this the thinning-out process must 
 be taken in hand. Trout require plenty of 
 elbow room, and if they are cooped up too 
 closely will not thrive or feed so well, and very 
 often take to nibbling at each other, or worse, 
 to habits of utter cannibalism, things to be 
 avoided by all means ; therefore the fish-rearer 
 should, ere this, have made arrangements for the 
 transfer of his fry to quarters where more space 
 will be afforded to them. 
 
 There are three ways of doing this, either by 
 
Rearing. 67 
 
 building tanks, or by keeping them in boxes in 
 running streams, or by turning the fry into the 
 open stream, and confining them within safe 
 limits by screens at each end. 
 
 Where a comparatively small number of fry 
 have to be dealt with, or only a few are kept for 
 show, the tank system proves very useful. It 
 merely consists in building large tanks of wood, 
 glass, or slate, in or near the hatching-house, or 
 in some convenient spot, placing a perforated 
 screen over the outlets, and running over the 
 fry a good supply of unfiltered water ; the more 
 this is charged with animal life the better, as 
 the young trout will thus find a constant 
 suitable stream of food flowing over them, 
 amidst which they will have a good selection of 
 varied diet of the best and most natural form. 
 In addition to this, however, they should have 
 regular meals of artificial food ; but of this more 
 anon. 
 
 Boxes in streams, with screens of zinc or iron 
 
 F 2 
 
68 Trout Culture. 
 
 at each end, have many advantages, especially 
 where the open stream itself would be objection- 
 able or unsuitable, either from the presence of 
 too many natural enemies, or from other causes. 
 Reference was made to this matter at the end of 
 Chapter III., so that only a few hints on construc- 
 tion need be given here. The best way to set to 
 work, in the writer's opinion, is to determine the 
 length of the box, or boxes, by that of the 
 longest planks to be obtained in the vicinity, as 
 the expense involved in an extra length of a few- 
 feet is the merest trifle, whereas the benefit 
 derived from the extra space thereby obtained 
 is very great. Supposing the water be a foot 
 deep, and the box four feet wide, every extra 
 foot of length gives the fry four cubic feet more 
 swimming space, or twenty-five gallons more 
 water to spread about in. 
 
 The length and width determined, the con- 
 struction is so easy that any man about the 
 estate who has the most elementary notions of 
 
Rearing. 69 
 
 carpentry can put it together. It should be' 
 built, we think, on the edge of the stream if 
 practicable, so as to be rolled into position in 
 the water with as little difficulty as possible. 
 The sides are first formed by laying the three 
 planks forming a side on two pieces of stout 
 "quartering," each piece 27 inches long, placed 
 two and a half inches from the squared ends of 
 the planks (which have been previously cut to 
 the same length), and nailing or screwing firmly 
 together. Cross-pieces or braces should then be 
 nailed across the side so as to strengthen them 
 and prevent " winding " ; and these should be 
 opposite each other on the two sides. The width 
 being determined, say three or four feet, the end 
 boards are cut, and nailed to the outer edge of 
 the " quartering " of each side, so as to unite the 
 sides, which must of course be parallel, and the 
 ends square and true. The boards forming the 
 bottom are now cut to the right length to 
 stretch over from one side to the other, and 
 
70 Trout Culture. 
 
 nailed or screwed firmly on, care being taken to 
 avoid leaving any aperture by which the fry can 
 escape. If the box seems to want " stiffness," 
 cross-pieces may be let in with a slight dovetail 
 where the braces are fixed to the sides on the 
 top, and this will make it a strong, sound job. 
 
 The ends should be fitted with grooved or 
 " rabbeted " slides, and frames, covered with 
 perforated zinc or iron, closely fitted, work in 
 these, a large aperture having been cut in the 
 end board at the bottom, or the bottom plank 
 of each end may be entirely removed, a slip 
 being nailed on to the " quartering " to afford a 
 firm even bed for the slide and frame. 
 
 The skeleton lid should be formed in lengths, 
 so *as not to be unwieldy, and be covered with 
 inch mesh wire netting to exclude enemies. It 
 may, if desired, be fitted with hasps, staples, 
 and padlocks. Before use, and whilst dry, it 
 should be dressed inside with two coats, outside 
 with one coat, of a mixture of two-thirds gas-tar 
 
Rearing. 7 1 
 
 and one-third turpentine. When dry, it may be 
 rolled over on its side, with the bottom nearest 
 the stream. Plenty of strength should be at 
 hand to help this box or "ark" to the spot 
 assigned for its resting place, for it must be 
 brought right to the edge of the stream, with 
 the bottom of the box slightly overhanging ; on 
 raising it to an angle of about forty-five degrees 
 the weight will cause it to slide gracefully into 
 the water. It must next be adjusted in its 
 proper place, and be held down till the water 
 has filled it, when, after a little pressure from 
 above has been brought to bear on it, a slight 
 " bedding " of the bottom takes place, and it is 
 fit, in twenty-four hours, for the reception of the 
 fish, which may then be removed from the 
 troughs and taken across in pails or other 
 vessels to the stream. 
 
 If, however, the stream is in every way 
 suitable, and the natural enemies of the fry not 
 in greater abundance than can be thoroughly 
 
72 Trout Culture. 
 
 checked, the best and most natural way of 
 rearing is to confine them in a portion of the 
 open stream, say about 100 or 150 yards long, 
 by wire or zinc screens fixed at each end ; 
 there they can range about, gather much food, 
 from amongst the water plants, and from the 
 grasses and shrubs overhanging the water. 
 They must, however, have plenty of shelters 
 into which they can retreat when danger of any 
 sort threatens : these should consist of drain 
 pipes, half-round tiles, bits of slate supported on 
 stones, and great " burrs " from a brick-field, 
 these last, especially in the case of older fish, all 
 impede the operations of poachers, and afford, 
 also, a welcome shade from the heat of a 
 summer sun. 
 
 Before, however, an open stream is used for 
 fry, all the weeds and mud should be re- 
 moved, and the height of the water carefully 
 noted, as weeds have a great tendency to heap 
 the water up and give it an artificial height, 
 
Rearing. 73 
 
 which is immerisely above the natural level 
 when cleared out effectually. The writer, at the 
 moment of writing this, has but just returned 
 from visiting a stream of this sort, which, instead 
 of holding a foot or more of water, has not more 
 than three inches of depth, and in a dry season 
 would require to be dammed up by artificial 
 means. 
 
 If a few little falls can, under any circum- 
 stances, be made in the stream, they will be 
 advantageous to the fry, as they like strong 
 rippling water ; these falls also tend to oxidize 
 the water, by exposing it in thin films to the air, 
 and have a neutralizing effect on any impurity 
 that may, by any chance, find its way in. 
 Water plants have this effect also, and should, 
 therefore, be encouraged to a moderate extent, 
 especially as they also act as shelters or hides. 
 
 The woodwork required for the screens at 
 each end of the water consists of a " sole-plate," 
 a good solid slab of timber some six feet longer 
 
74 Trout Culture. 
 
 than the width of the stream, having two strong 
 uprights mortised into it about three feet from 
 each end, and carrying grooves to receive the slide 
 on which the zinc or iron screen is fastened. These 
 uprights are braced to the ends of the sole-plate 
 by " struts " or buttresses, with planking nailed 
 to them so as to form " wings," which extend 
 into the bank and prevent the water working 
 round instead of going through the perforations 
 of the screen, a thing which, in their absence, it 
 is sure to do. A firm bottom is selected, and 
 branches are made on each side of the bank 
 to bed the wings on. The bottom is levelled, 
 and the sole-plate is bedded carefully on it ; 
 and the stones and earth are rammed well in 
 round the wings. 
 
 Large stones and bricks should be well 
 worked up to the sole-plate on both sides, and 
 for some distance, and should be well dressed 
 with puddled clay ; this in its turn being 
 covered with gravel and fine shingle, as we have 
 
Rearing. 75 
 
 two difficulties to contend with. On the upper 
 side we have the head of water, which, even if 
 only of a few inches in height, will assuredly, 
 unless well checked as above advised, work its 
 way under the sole-plate and well up on the 
 other side, thus affording a free egress to the 
 fry, which, always on the look-out for an outlet, 
 will not be slow to take advantage of it. 
 
 On the under side we have fish that are al- 
 ways alive to the advantages of a good shelter, 
 with a flow of water through it. They therefore 
 will work most assiduously to dig a hole under 
 the screen and hide there. These things must 
 be carefully attended to, or the loss of many 
 fish is a certainty. 
 
 Having the place in order, whether tank, box, 
 or stream, the next thing is to catch the fry out 
 of the troughs, and, as they are by this time 
 wonderfully active, the glass tube is no longer 
 of any use, and is, accordingly, superseded by 
 a light hand-net. The frame of this, made of 
 
76 Trout Culture. 
 
 wire, is of such a size as just to work easily 
 inside the troughs, and is fixed into a short 
 wooden handle ; it is covered with muslin, and 
 used with the right hand, a bowl or other vessel 
 being held in the left so as to be ready to receive 
 the fry when caught. At first the unsuspecting 
 little creatures will be very easily swept up, but 
 gradually the last few become very cunning by 
 experience, and dodge the net with wonderful 
 speed and dexterity. It is sometimes a good 
 plan to use a syphon of indiarubber tubing and 
 draw off the water into one of the lower tanks. 
 Almost every one of the fry will make for the 
 exit as the water sinks, and the few remaining 
 may easily be got out by tilting the trough and 
 sweeping them up in the net as the water flows 
 back when the trough is again lowered. 
 
 Having caught the fry they must be taken in 
 pails, or other vessels, to their new residence, 
 and there set free, by gently turning the pail 
 over when in the water. They will swim away, 
 
Rearing. 77 
 
 and endeavour to hide themselves, making free 
 use of the artificial shelters provided for them. 
 
 Having treated of the food suited for the fry 
 for the first six weeks after feeding, and of their 
 removal before or at that time to the place 
 where the next year's, or two years', growth will 
 take place, we may return to the subject of 
 feeding. 
 
 After supplying the fry with blood-worms or 
 gnats for six or eight weeks, according to their 
 strength, a change of food should be made ; but 
 it must not take place until they fly well at the 
 food and eat it up before it reaches the bottom. 
 They may leave the gnats uneaten without 
 harm, as these insects float on the surface and 
 do no damage beyond choking up a few of the 
 holes in the screens. Unconsumed blood-worms, 
 too, are perfectly innocuous, as they live in 
 water, and will tend to purify the water by re- 
 moving organic matter ; but the foods to be 
 hereafter mentioned, if left uneaten, will sink to 
 
78 Trout Culture. 
 
 the bottom, and there decomposing give rise to 
 death and decimation. 
 
 Raw meat, especially beef, chopped fine, is a 
 very good, nourishing diet, much to be recom- 
 mended. It is easily prepared by one of the 
 numerous machines sold for such purposes ; 
 " Starret's Patent American Meat Chopper " 
 answers well for this, and may be obtained 
 at the establishment of Mr. E. Cox, 117, 
 High Holborn, London, for the sum of thirty 
 shillings. 
 
 Raw meat pounded with arrowroot biscuit is 
 also very useful, and in the writer's opinion, 
 leaves little to be desired. It is thus pre- 
 pared : One or more, according to the num- 
 ber of fry, of Messrs. Peak, Frean and Co.'s 
 "Town" biscuits, is crushed in a mortar to a 
 moderately fine powder, and a lump of lean 
 meat, about as large as a walnut, is allowed to 
 each biscuit. The meat is thrown into the 
 mortar, and being covered with biscuit-flour 
 
Rearing. 79 
 
 is pounded, being turned at intervals and re- 
 covered with flour until a thin friable "meat 
 biscuit " is produced ; this is then fed out to the 
 fish, small pieces being broken off and thrown 
 lightly on to the water, when it will be shaken, 
 worried, quarrelled over, and finally devoured. 
 
 These two are the best, safest, and most 
 "growing" artificial foods that the fish-rearer 
 can use ; and no others will be recommended. 
 If fry will not thrive well on them, they certainly 
 will not on any other. 
 
 Whilst worms or gnats are used, that is for 
 the first six or eight weeks after regular feeding 
 is commenced, four meals a day are advised, or 
 the worms may be suspended in a muslin bag 
 under water, and then the fry always have food 
 before them ; but, if the stream be rapid, the 
 worms work out through the muslin 'and roll 
 along on the bottom, and are not caught by 
 the fry, as they are apparently frightened by 
 any object rolling in the water. 
 
8o Trout Culture. 
 
 When the change of food takes place, three 
 meals should be given at first, but as the fry 
 grow stronger, and can take more at one 
 feeding, the number may be diminished to two, 
 given early in the morning and at, or a little 
 before, sunset. If, however, time permits, the 
 midday meal should not be discontinued, as 
 its effect on the growth of the fish is great, and 
 prevents any tendency to "nibbling" or can- 
 nibalism. 
 
 As an extra, especially where they only get 
 two regular feeds, carrion may be hung up over 
 the stream or box if at some distance from a 
 house, and the gentles falling therefrom will be 
 greatly relished by the fry, when of a size to 
 enable them to swallow a whole gentle. This 
 will as a rule be attained by the middle of 
 June. 
 
 The fish-rearer must expect, however evenly- 
 sized his fry may look at first, to find several 
 go ahead of the rest, and rapidly to attain a 
 
Rearing. 8 1 
 
 size which makes them a terror to their smaller 
 brethren, since they bully and even devour 
 them. Such fish should be diligently sought 
 for, and when caught, removed either to an 
 open stream where they can shift for them- 
 selves, or to a separate box, where, being of 
 equal size and strength, they will be less likely 
 to damage one another. Otherwise sad havoc 
 is sure to ensue. 
 
 The above system should be pursued, suiting 
 the quantity and size of the food to that of the 
 fish, as long as they are kept in an artificial 
 
 state. This period may extend as long as the 
 
 \ 
 
 trout-rearer pleases : but, as a rule, space is at 
 a premium for ^future use, and the fry are 
 turned out as yearlings to shift for themselves 
 in the open river in March or April of the year 
 after that in which they were hatched. If, 
 however, there be abundance of room, especially 
 where they are in an open stream, it may be 
 advisable to keep them in for two years, as 
 
 G 
 
82 Trout Culture. 
 
 during the second year they put on flesh and 
 growth to an extent which amply pays for the 
 expense and trouble. Each person must, how- 
 ever, shape for himself the course to be pursued, 
 as he alone can decide what will be the best 
 to do under the circumstances. 
 
 If the general rules of procedure given above 
 have been intelligently followed, disease will 
 scarcely be observed, as that generally has its 
 origin from foul water, overcrowding, and want 
 or excess of proper food. 
 
 When disease does break out, however, it is 
 a terrible scourge, as it spreads with fearful 
 rapidity, and sweeps off the stock wholesale. 
 
 The best thing, perhaps, for the trout-rearer 
 to do, should any such calamity occur, is to 
 turn the fry out altogether into the open stream 
 and let them go their own way, as instinct will 
 doubtless guide them aright if left to follow out 
 their own inclinations. 
 
Enemies. 8 
 
 v> 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 ENEMIES. 
 
 ALTHOUGH not connected with any of the 
 actual processes of fish culture, the subject of 
 the enemies of the eggs and fry of the sal- 
 monidae is one of too great importance to the 
 welfare of a fishery to be overlooked in this 
 work. For, do what he may artificially, the 
 breeder must, more or less, rely on the fecundity 
 of the stream under his care. Besides this, the 
 enemy will sometimes make a descent on the 
 artificial preserves ; and, when once a footing 
 has been established, will work havoc of the 
 direst kind. 
 
 Enemies of the fish-eggs are legion. First 
 come trout. They, following the actual parents, 
 
 G 2 
 
84 Trout Culture. 
 
 and tracing the nests by the arrangement of the 
 gravel, root them up, and ruthlessly destroy the 
 e SS s f their predecessors, only anxious to 
 secure progeny of their own. 
 
 We believe it would be wise, therefore, except 
 where there is very ample room and accommo- 
 dation for all the pairs of fishes to spawn on 
 their own ground, and at their own time, to 
 strip a number of females, even if the eggs 
 are not wanted for artificial breeding. The 
 males, too, might also be so treated, as, if there 
 be a superfluity of them, the deaths through 
 fighting are sure to be numerous. The under 
 jaw of the male trout becomes hooked at 
 spawning time, like that of the salmon, although 
 not to the same extent ; and fights of a very 
 sanguinary character frequently take place. This 
 plan need never be thought of where eggs are 
 artificially hatched, as this system sufficiently 
 depletes the occupants of the spawning ground ; 
 since those whose object has been obtained, 
 
Enemies. 
 
 quickly absent themselves, falling back down 
 stream, to recruit their wasted condition. 
 
 All other fishes, too, are most greedy de- 
 vourers of the ova of trout and salmon ; hence 
 it is that the use of these eggs as bait is 
 forbidden by law. In the Museum of Fish 
 Culture, South Kensington, will be seen the 
 cast of the stomach of a trout crammed with 
 salmon eggs ; this is only one instance. 
 
 Besides piscine foes, the eggs and young fry 
 have to contend against birds and beasts, which 
 hunt them out and devour them to an untold 
 extent ; water-fowl, rats, weasels, and many 
 other creatures are enemies to be warned off 
 the spawning ground. 
 
 About kingfishers there can be no doubt. 
 These water-vultures will find out the where- 
 abouts of young fish, especially young trout, 
 from a long distance, and will not leave till the 
 place has been cleared. Ornamental as the 
 kingfisher, one of our handsomest British birds, 
 
86 Trout Culture. 
 
 is, he must be kept in check, or fish culture 
 must be given up. 
 
 Having severely suffered from the visits of 
 these birds, the writer ventures to caution the 
 reader against any false security on this point. 
 The bird may never be seen, but if the fish are 
 wild and scurry about when approached, the 
 odds are that the pest has been at work. 
 
 On one occasion a number of fry contained 
 in a box were found to be very wild, and, on 
 a search being made, a small hole in the wire 
 netting was discovered, about two inches by 
 one in size : as it was deemed impossible for a 
 kingfisher to enter by it, no steps were taken till, 
 on going to feed them one evening, an unusual 
 sound was heard, and, on looking in, the creature 
 was seen fluttering against the screen. Two 
 sticks were procured, and the bird was even- 
 tually disabled, and killed by well-directed 
 blows as it flew from end to end of the box. 
 As a curiosity and a remarkably fine example 
 
Enemies. 87 
 
 it was entrusted to Mr. Edon, who has set it up 
 with his usual care and skill. 
 
 Happily for pisciculture, Mr. Lane, trap- 
 maker, of Wednesfield, has introduced some 
 first-rate apparatus for their capture. His 
 traps are small and circular, and are set on 
 discs of wood, and supplied with a small perch, 
 which, on the alighting of the bird, catches it 
 by the feet. These discs of wood are put on 
 small poles and set in sterams infested by the 
 enemy. 
 
 Herons are dangerous to all sizes of fish, 
 and should be kept under, especially at 
 spawning time, when their prey resort to the 
 shallows. A circle of traps, securely fastened 
 to the ground, should be set round a heap of 
 stones or mud, just rising above the surface of 
 the water in spots frequented by these birds. 
 They will settle on them when gorged, and 
 be caught by the feet by the traps. Care 
 should be taken in approaching a wounded 
 
88 Trout Culture. 
 
 heron, as the beak is very powerful and capable 
 of inflicting a nasty wound. 
 
 Rats are a great nuisance in a stream, as 
 they not only destroy eggs and very young fry, 
 but also damage the banks and foul the bottom 
 of the stream. Gins are very useful for them, 
 when set in their runs, and a gun may be em- 
 ployed where its use is not calculated to disturb 
 the game, if the stream runs through a preserve. 
 
Stream Cleaning. 89 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 STREAM CLEANING. 
 
 IT very often happens that a stream will have 
 every element of suitability about it, but be so 
 choked up by weeds and mud that, at first sight, 
 it would be thought the last place to grow trout 
 in. By dint, however, of the free use of mud- 
 scoop and broom, it may, with hard work, be 
 brought into order. The mud-scoop should be 
 hemispherical, not merely a shovel, with a long 
 handle, and the broom should be of whalebone. 
 This material, though at first expensive, will 
 answer in careful hands for a long time, and 
 will give a " finish " to the bed of the stream 
 which amply repays first cost. The scoop 
 should be used as long as a fair amount is 
 fetched out, then the broom is plied down 
 
Trout Culture. 
 
 stream to heap up the mud for the next re- 
 moval ; but, to finish off neatly, the broom 
 should be worked over the ground again, down 
 stream, the user drawing it towards him, so as 
 to extinguish all footmarks and thoroughly 
 cleanse the bed of the stream. When once put 
 in order, it should be kept in good condition, 
 and should not be allowed again to become 
 foul, as in this matter, as in so many others, 
 " a stitch in time saves nine." Indeed, if there 
 are three or four streams to be looked after, one 
 man should be held responsible for their condi- 
 tion. A look over by him once or twice a 
 week will ensure cleanliness, and save much 
 labour. A moderate growth of water plants 
 is to be allowed, but, especially in hot weather, 
 these grow so rankly, that, unless kept in check, 
 the result is that the " weeds " take possession 
 of the place which should be occupied by the 
 water. 
 
Conclusion. 9 1 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 THIS little work has been written with the 
 express object of so guiding the owner of 
 water in the management of his fishery, that, 
 by following out the broad principles laid down, 
 disease may be averted, and success ensured. 
 If personal acquaintance with all the practical 
 details of breeding and rearing trout can give 
 an authority to speak on such subjects, the 
 writer may well claim that authority, as he 
 has for some years carried on, with his own 
 hands and under his own charge, a small fishery, 
 the success of which has fairly astonished him. 
 When first setting out he was so much ham- 
 pered by doubts and fears, and perplexed about 
 many things, that he hardly knew what course 
 
92 Trout Cidture. 
 
 to pursue ; and right glad would he have been 
 to have had at hand such a book as this to refer 
 to. However, in any work on a subject which 
 is as yet in its infancy, many errors will neces- 
 sarily occur, and the writer hopes that those 
 herein will be found and corrected in a second 
 edition, should that be called for. 
 
 Before closing, the writer desires again to 
 thank Mr. Edon, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Green for 
 the information that they have from time to time 
 so readily furnished. To Mr. Frank Buckland 
 his acknowledgments are gratefully tendered ; 
 as, by his energy and his hearty support and at 
 his instigation, the Museum of Fish Culture has 
 been established; for, though supported by 
 public money, it would never, in all probability, 
 have been established, had not Mr. Buckland 
 taken up the subject. 
 
 Some may very probably grumble at the 
 smallness of this book, and consider it super- 
 ficial, or think that the subject has not been 
 
Conclusion. 93 
 
 sufficiently elucidated. The answer to all such 
 objections is that, when really understood, trout 
 culture is intrinsically by no means a difficult 
 matter, requiring years of study ; that its pro- 
 cesses are all simple, requiring patience and 
 practice, rather than genius in comprehension. 
 And lastly, that to crowd a practical work with 
 unnecessary matter, in other words to pad it 
 out, is worse than useless, as the fewer words 
 that are used the more easily are they retained 
 in the memory. 
 
 LONDON : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET 
 AND CHARING CROSS. 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LI] 
 BERKELEY 
 
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