684 EEPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 



autumn (the time when fish eat most), it never cost me more than h to % 

 cent apiece. When fed in this manlier the fish had reached an average 

 length of a finger ; the expense had therefore not only been amply re- 

 paid, but the gain was infinitely larger than the expense. Such a young 

 saibling or bastard is worth at least 4 to 5 cents and even more, for its 

 period of growth is only just commencing. I say advisedly " period of 

 growth," for during the first year fish grow most rapidly, comparatively 

 speaking. After having lost the umbilical bag a trout weighs about 

 0.125 grams; and as a trout when one year old will, if well fed, weigh 

 20 to 25 and even 30 grams, the original weight has increased about 200 

 fold. Growing at the same rate, a trout when two years old would weigh 

 about 4 or 5 or even 6 kilograms. Well-fed saibling are ready for the 

 market when two years old. 



As soon as the fish grow larger the question of feeding them becomes 

 more important ; for a larger quantity of food is required. Expenses 

 should now be carefully calculated, for otherwise it may happen that 

 artificially-raised fish are twice and three times as expensive as those 

 caught in open waters. 



This question of food is really the main question in raising salmonoids 

 in inclosed waters ; and so far this question has not even been answered 

 approximately. 



As I have already mentioned, the raising of salmonoids will be profit- 

 able in such places where small food-fish, principally of the A Iburnm 

 and Leuciseus kind, which never grow large enough to serve as food for 

 man, can easily be obtained. There are a great many such places, and 

 whenever all the other conditions are favorable salmonoids can be suc- 

 cessfully raised. 



To feed the young fish exclusively with meat — on account of the cheap 

 price, it will have to be horse-flesh — has many serious disadvantages, and 

 I would not advise any one to introduce this method of feeding in any 

 large piscicultural establishment. 



Two years ago I thought I had discovered the right method, and com- 

 menced to feed my salmonoids with herrings. The trout and saibling 

 ravenously devoured the herrings, which had been soaked for twelve 

 hours and then chopped fine. But soon I discovered that great caution 

 had to be used in this method of feeding, because even the cheapest 

 herrings are very fat and hard to digest. 



As an occasional food I can recommend herrings, because at times 

 they can be bought very cheap, and because salt herrings can be kept 

 for years. You are therefore certain of having food all the year round. 



It would be advisable to make experiments with using salt-water fish 

 as food, because they are at certain seasons of the year cheap and to be 

 had in great abundance. 



The smelt, e. g., which at times are caught in large numbers, would cer- 

 tainly form an excellent food for salmonoids. There are other fresh- 

 water fish besides the Alburnus and Leuciseus which might be very ac 



