PiSCICDLTURE AVITH EeFKKENCE TO FaRMING. "" 409 



present laws. But that Vermont fai-mers, witli no other 

 hiws than are now in force, can, with a moderate outlay, 

 raise tlicir own fish, is beyond any donht. Perhaps some 

 of YOU think it is easier to say tliis than to tell how it 

 is done. Let us see. The first necessary reqirisite is an 

 unfailing supply of pure, clear water. The softer and 

 more equable in temperature the better. Springs are pref- 

 erable, and, in fact, they are indispensable for those who 

 breed artificially, because the water must not freeze in 

 winter. Small streams, however, can be made available, 

 provided they are reliable in dry weather. Large streams 

 are also serviceable, but the expense of excavating the 

 ponds and guarding against freshets is, of course, greater. 



I cannot do better than to quote from the simple direc- 

 tions of Theodore Lyman, one of the Commissioners of 

 Massachusetts : 



" The simplest hatching apparatus, without a house at 

 all. and one at the command of anybody, is made as 

 follows : Close below a spring head, dig a trench a foot 

 wide, so that the whole water shall pass though it gently. 

 Fit tightly into this trench a box, four feet long, and open 

 above and at each end. (The water will now tiow through 

 this.) Close the upper end of the box with a layer of 

 coarse sponge, and below this (down stream, that is) add 

 two flannel strainers stretched across the box. (Now the 

 water will still flow, but will be filtered.) Close the lower 

 end of the box with a metallic gauge — the bottom of an 

 old sieve painted will do — and add a movable cover on top. 

 Now vou have a closed box or trough throuo;h which, a 

 stream of filtered spring water flows constantly. 



