370 BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FISH COMMISSION. 



stitution on a thoroughly practical basis, and since its control has 

 passed into the hands of the United States Fish Commission new and 

 more extended undertakings have been successfully inaugurated. There 

 are natural facilities here, however, that have not yet been fully uti- 

 lized. The trout work, to which this station is peculiarly adapted, may 

 readily be enlarged to such an extent that our present operations may 

 be multiplied eightfold, while the cost will not be more than three times 

 what it now is. 



The water supply now controlled by the hatchery is wholly of spring 

 origin, the character and volume of which have been heretofore alluded 

 to ; and, while it is sufficiently ample to sustain a considerable pond 

 area and do a creditable work, as the figures given indicate, the addi- 

 tional water-power adjacent and available for the purpose in question 

 will make it possible to increase the volume of work with increased 

 outlay in the ratios given above. The power referred to is embodied in 

 a stream flowing near the hatchery, and which has its origin in num- 

 berless little springs one mile away, its quality being sustained and 

 volume increased by numerous contributions of like character all along 

 its devious channel, which finally passes within a few feet of the trout 

 ponds in connection with the hatchery. As the degree of success 

 already established will doubtless justify the acquisition, either by lease 

 or purchase, of sufficient land through which the stream flows on which 

 to create ponds and to control three-quarters of a mile of the stream 

 itself, a prospective glance at the magnitude the work may attain is 

 worthy of notice and will be a fitting conclusion to the history of a work 

 just fairly begun. 



The plan of utilizing this stream contemplates the creation of large 

 ponds or reservoirs of irregular coast lines along the border of the 

 stream, into which a sufficient quantity of water will be diverted to sus- 

 tain a large stock of breeding fish. The outlet of the ponds will be so 

 constructed as to carry the water back again into the main channel. 

 As the capacity of this stream is fully 3,000 gallons per minute, an im- 

 mense pond area can be sustained, while the stream itself will make a 

 home for thousands of growing fish. The water is well adapted to the 

 purpose in hand, as is attested by the fact that the stream is now in- 

 habited by hundreds of brook trout of various sizes which are the result 

 of plants at the beginning of the work at Uorthville. Schools of 10 to 

 25 trout can frequently be seen around favorite gravelly pools where 

 they are wont to congregate. By actual count 350 of these wild trout 

 were taken during the past fall from the little rivulet created by our 

 springs and flowing into the main channel, whence they had run for 

 spawning purposes. About 25,000 eggs were taken in this way, as 

 before mentioned, which was clear profit, besides increasing our stock 

 of breeders by the 350 fish that were transferred to the ponds. 



The use of this stream will also make a very material proportionate 

 reduction in cost of food, as it is stocked with shrimp (Gammunts), the 



