1883.] TROUT BREEDING. 129 



gives way to a fine white line. This is the spine of the trout, and 

 can he seen if the egg is in spring- water in about two weeks from 

 spawning. The warmer the water the sooner the egg developes. 

 In about three weeks the eye spots, heart, and red blood are visible, 

 and the young fish can be seen to move. The size of the egg re- 

 mains the same but the young fish is continually growing, and if 

 he is healthy will be of a dark color. After five or six weeks of 

 waiting, with water at 48° or 50°, you may expect to see your first 

 hatched trout. He is usually a very insignificant specimen, and 

 you may look pretty sharp to find him. 



REARING THE TOUNG FRY. 



The young fish usually enters this busy world tail first, and 

 spends a few days sometimes trying to butt through the shell of 

 the egg with his head. After a time, he decides to back out, and 

 accordingly does so. He then lies over on his side and wishes he 

 hadn't done so, apparently all used up. He is about half an inch 

 long, and don't look or act as though he ever would be as large as 

 Artemas Ward was among the Mormons, namely, five feet nine 

 inches. As you see by the specimen herewith, he is as heavily 

 loaded as the Republican party. This sac supplies him with food 

 for about the time the egg has been hatching, if the temperature is 

 the same. A few days after hatching, the little fish begin to herd 

 together and spend their time diving into the gravel and corners 

 of the hatching-trough. They do not seem to be inclined to travel 

 any distance, but anxious to get out of sight. As the sac becomes 

 absorbed they become trout in good earnest. I might undertake 

 to tell how small a hole five thousand of these little fellows would 

 get through, but the chances are you would fail to believe me, so 

 we will drop that branch of the industry, only if you see water 

 dropping ever so little through a corner in the hatching-box, it 

 will be well enough to put a little piece of fine wire screen under 

 that place and watch it for a few days. They are not yet strong 

 enough to face a current and so keep away from swift water. 

 They make it their whole aim for the next six months to die if they 

 possibly can. " As they become ready to feed they separate and 

 begin to rise from the bottom and begin to forage for food. And 

 now comes the most important work of the whole process. If they 

 can be kept alive for the next three months the battle is half won. 

 The water in the boxes is now raised about four inches, or else the 



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