1883.] TROUT BREEDING. 131 



The sales of the young fry usually thin them down, so that by 

 the middle of May or first of June they are no longer crowded in 

 the ponds, and very few seem to be diseased after that time. Care 

 should be taken not to be too anxious to sell all the smaller fry, as 

 they are usually the female fish. Breeders who take the pains to 

 separate their large fry from the small ones, and keep them apart 

 long enough, will discover this to be a fact. It is also the case, as 

 we know, with nearly all other animals, that the young males are 

 on an average the largest. 



The late spring and early summer season is a time of compara- 

 tive rest to the trout-breeder. There is little danger from heat 

 and drought, the care of the winter is past, and he now luxuriously 

 strolls along beside his little ponds of beauties. They know him, 

 and will eat from his hand and amply repay him for his days and 

 nights of anxiety and care. 



The growing of the large fish is so simple a process, provided 

 everything is properly constructed, that it is not necessary for us 

 to dwell on the subject. We are only to remember that they will 

 go up and down stream where we have little conception of its 

 being a possibility, and that everybody and everything loves trout 

 and will get them if they can, so we must act accordingly. 



SHIPPING. 



The packing of the eggs for shipping and the delivery of fish 

 deserve a word. The eggs are usually shipped as soon as the 

 young fish is plainly discerned. Fine, wet moss is used for pack- 

 ing. The eggs are gathered on a tray by means of a feather, a 

 layer of moss is placed in the box for receiving the eggs, a piece 

 of mosquito netting next over the moss, then a layer of the eggs, 

 more netting, then moss again, and so on till the package is full 

 It is then covered, taken from the water, drained, and packed in 

 sawdust, and can be shipped a thousand miles with little loss, the 

 moss holding water enough to supply the eggs with air. Before 

 feeding the young fry are very easily transported. A thousand 

 can be carried in a gallon of water all day without change. The 

 water is kept cool by using ice freely, and perhaps occasionally 

 aerated by a pump or by pouring. As they increase in size and 

 the weather grows warmer more room is, of course, necessary. 

 Still, there is little danger of loss with proper care. 



It hardly pays to undertake to move the adult trout in hot 



