58 



up this experience to add to what Mr. Mather has 

 said. 



Mr. Mather: There are three mill ponds. In the 

 upper one, the trout about the first of April and along 

 through April are quite edible ; from the first of May, 

 after the rains get started in, the trout taste muddy, 

 taste like good fresh water fish out of a muddy pond. 



In regard to the natural food, of course there is 

 enough natural food in almost all the streams to sup- 

 port a limited number of trout ; but the point of my 

 remarks and my paper was this — that where j^ou have 

 ten thousand trout, say in a little artificial pond, per- 

 haps not over twenty-five feet by ten feet and a couple 

 of feet deep, and they are about as thick as they can 

 stand and swim, they have got to have a good deal 

 more food than will go into the water naturally ; you 

 cannot breed in au}^ such pond as I undertook to work 

 this last year. 



Mr. Titcomb : You must have a greater water 

 area ? 



Mr. Mather : Yes, sir. 



Mr. Annin : I would like to say a few words. I 

 agree with Mr. Mather. I do not think it is possible 

 for any one to breed naturally food enough to run 

 more than a small pond, where 3'ou are rearing ten or 

 twelve or twenty thousand small fish, and to sup- 

 port them. You have got to have them artificially fed. 

 You see in the fish business the rule is to make money, 

 sell trout ; and upon inquiring into the circumstances 

 connected with it, invariably you will find that they 

 have a big pond, and a pond that is breeding natural 

 food itself, and does it to such an extent as to produce 

 natural food enough, so as to carry lots of trout. I 

 think you would find in many cases that they can 

 raise natural food to run through and feed your fish, 

 so that you can produce enough of them to make it 



