124 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



able ; these varieties of valuable timber will grow, and in a 

 few years we shall see the forests of our State very greatly 

 improved, and not only will land which is now comparatively 

 worthless, instead of remaining so, eventually become very 

 valuable forest, and, as I fully believe, the climatic condition 

 of our State will be improved by the development of our 

 forests. 



The President. The hour has arrived for the regular exer- 

 cises of the morning, and I introduce to you Mr. Hodges, who 

 will speak on the subject of trout-breeding, a subject with 

 which he is practically familiar. 



TROUT BREEDING. 



BY LEVI HODGES, TORRINGTON. 



Only one word is necessary in order to thoroughly stir up a certain 

 kind of dog — that word is rats. It is not necessary to explain to 

 this wide-awake sportsman, the rat-terrier, just where the rats are, 

 where they came from, or how many there are of them — by the 

 simple word "rats" you have his undivided attention. 



Gentlemen, in regard to that magnificent fish, the trout, it is 

 equally unnecessary for me to make any explanation as to how 

 long he has been known, where his grandfather came from, 

 whether or not Adam and Eve angled for him in Eden's fair 

 garden. I simply say trout, and I know I shall secure your atten- 

 tion during the reading of these pages. It was Patrick Henry 

 who said "Gentlemen may cry peace, peace, but there is no peace," 

 but I assure you I do not cry "trout" without knowing whereof 

 I speak. Since the year of our Lord, 1871, I have given much of 

 my attention to the breeding of trout. In heat and cold, in day- 

 Hght and in darkness, when the thermometer was below zero and 

 when it was above 100° in the shade, at all times, in all places, I 

 have spent these eleven years striving to learn how to save what 

 trout I was fortunate enough to possess, and if possible make them 

 increase to a few more. Losses, disasters, ridicule, and discour- 

 agements, have all had their day with me in this matter. Like 

 the mail' who in the middle of a ten acre lot hung to the mad 

 bull's tail because it was "dangerous to let go," so have I spent 

 my time and energies during these years. 



The first thing to decide in the culture of the trout is, are you 



