132 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



weather, though it is often successfully done. They should have 

 very little or nothing to eat for a few days before their journey, 

 and receive very careful attention. It is a sad experience to a 

 trout-breeder to see his beauties dying, after he has nursed them 

 from the egg up, but we must most of us have to meet it some- 

 times. In cool weather there is very little risk. The water is 

 never changed, but kept well aerated and at as low a temperature 

 as possible. 



DOES IT PAY? 



In answer to this we can only speak from our own experience. 

 We find that though there is a great amount of care and labor, 

 and sometimes losses, still, as a branch of farming, it does pay. 

 Every farmer can raise what trout he wants himself with little 

 cost. They will not take care of themselves, neither will any 

 other kind of fish, carp not excepted. Breeders who have had 

 long e:^perience in the work can hatch and raise to a year old the 

 young trout, when they can be taken and cared for by any body 

 who will give them any chance at all. We believe also, that as 

 long as there is a market for trout at fifty cents per pound, it will 

 pay to raise them for the table. Not that everybody will make it 

 pay, but sovie will. 



The trout is a king among fishes. He never had a peer and I 

 suppose he never will. If it will pay to raise any fish it will pay 

 to raise trout. 



Mr. Day. I see that the gentleman has a few vials upon 

 the table. If he will explain something in regard to them, 

 I presume it will interest the whole audience. 



Mr. Hodges. I will do so as well as I can. The vial in 

 my left hand contains trout eggs. A few of them are about 

 a week old ; the rest are from ten to fifteen days old. The 

 eye-spots just begin to show in some of them. They were 

 packed up two days ago ; the temperature has been warm, 

 and they have advanced very fast. In the hatching-troughs 

 they would not have been advanced as far as they are here. 

 The larger eggs which you see in this other bottle are about 

 a month old. You can plainly see the form of the little fish. 

 Here are eggs just ready to hatch, and also fish that are just 



