130 



poud about uiue feet by twelve was excavated and 

 connected by a short raceway with the pond in which 

 the failure of the preceding year had occurred. This 

 side pond carried only eighteen inches of water, a 

 favorite depth selected by the fish in the river for 

 spawning ; and being much shoaler it would also grow 

 much warmer, and, therefore, more attractive for the 

 spawners than its larger and deeper consort. The 

 bottom was covered with gravel and small cobble stones, 

 and everything done to make the little annex as invit- 

 ing as possible. No one but the attendants was 

 allowed to approach the pond during the spawning 

 season. A "blind" was provided nearby, from behind 

 which all the proceedings, from the initial step of pre- 

 paring the beds, to the final rising of the j^oung fish, 

 could be observed without intrusion. 



The result more than justified expectations. There 

 were no indications of bedding in the deeper pond, but 

 in two instances, at least, the males literally fought 

 over the possession of the bed in the little annex. 

 Eight beds were made — there was n't room for any 

 more. Three pairs Avere lifted from the beds, of which 

 one was spawning at the time, but as usual no milt 

 could be pressed out, or only a minute "speck" or 

 fraction of a drop. 



No further effort to handle the spawners was made. 

 As the last three pairs handled had not been touched 

 or disturbed in any waj', or at any time, until they 

 were at the point or in the verj^ act of spawning, we 

 concluded that while occasionall3^ under peculiar or 

 accidental conditions, a few eggs might be taken and 

 fertilized, all efforts to reduce the business to a success- 

 ful working basis would prove useless and futile ; fur- 

 ther experiments might be interesting, but would 

 result in no practical benefit. 



There is probably an appreciable space of time 

 during which the spawn may be taken and fertilized, 



