CHAPTER II. 



Trout Ponds. 



Location. — It is very easy witli good spring water to raise 

 a few trout anywhere in temperate latitudes. But to raise 

 a large number requires care in the selection of a location. 

 Plenty of pure spring water is the first and most essential 

 requisite. The spring, or one of the springs, if there are 

 several, should have a fall of two or three feet, and a fall 

 of five to ten feet of the whole volume of water is deci- 

 dedly advantageous. If the supply of water is very large, 

 it diminishes the necessity of a fall. The water from a 

 spring remains (near its source) at nearly the same temper- 

 ature during the whole year, and is the best for Trout rais- 

 ing. The water from a brook which does not rise higher 

 than sixty -five degrees in summer, may be used to supply 

 ponds for adult Trout ; but spring water is absolutely ne- 

 cessary for hatching purposes. It is not a good plan tn dam 

 up a stream which varies in volume, and so make ponds. 

 There should be enough level land by the side of such a 

 stream to make ponds supplied bj^ the stream ; and it is 

 best to have a stream much greater in volume than is ne- 

 cessary for the ponds, so that there will always be a good 

 supply of water, and will be no trouble with the surplus 

 water after a freshet. The reasons for these and other 

 essentials will, it is hoped, be found in the following pages. 

 A good knowledge of the whole system of Trout Culture is 

 essential in choosing the very best location. It is best to 

 have your ponds near your house, or have a man in charge 

 living at the ponds. Of course your Trout may never be 



