1883.] TROUT BREEDING. 127 



more females are stripped into the same pan, and perhaps another 

 male; a little water is added, and the eggs begin to adhere to the 

 bottom of the pan. If the eggs are washed off and placed in the 

 boxes before this process of clinging begins, and, at the same 

 time, give them time to receive the milt, a good impregnation can 

 be secured. But after the process begins they should be undis- 

 turbed till they are loose again, which will be from ten to forty 

 minutes, according to temperature of the water, high temperature 

 hastening the process. This work is continued from day to day, 

 sometimes taking the fish from the race and sometimes from the 

 pond. Although this is not a very natural process, still it is very 

 effectual, and, so far as I know, has been found to be the most 

 practical. - 



The eggs can be obtained by different modes if desired. One 

 is as follows: Sink in the race several boxes three inches deep with 

 bottoms of wire-cloth three or four threads to the inch, with an 

 inch frame and fine screen underneath each. Put an inch of 

 gravel in the upper boxes. In flirting away the female uncovers 

 the upper, screen. The eggs are laid and fall through out of reach 

 of the fish and can be gathered whenever wanted. The labor is 

 greater and !he impregnation, I think, not as good by this mode as 

 the former. After washing the eggs, which is done by dipping the 

 pan into clear water and gently pouring it off, repeating the pro- 

 cess till all particles of dirt and all the milt are poured away, the 

 eggs are ready for the hatching-trough. 



HATCHING THE EGGS. 



The hatching of the eggs, although requiring considerable labor 

 and care, is an easy matter. If kept in water where nothing can 

 get them most of them will hatch themselves. But the water 

 must be filtered, fungus guarded against, the dead eggs removed, 

 and for two or three months the water must not fail. Even these 

 items are sometimes difficult to secure for so long a season. All 

 things being equal, I have no doubt that spring water is best for 

 hatching purposes, and in fact for the whole work of trout culture 

 it is preferable. It is drawn into a tank for filtering, and run 

 through flannel screens which are so constructed as to be easily 

 removed and cleaned. It then runs into the hatching-troughs. 

 These troughs are made of pine, usually a foot wide, and six 

 inches deep, and of any required length. It is well understood 



