American Fisheries Society. '77 



and size to suit the location and number of fish expected to be 

 captured, and the same precautions should be taken with them 

 as with the trap to guard against washouts. In many instances, the 

 bed of the brook is hard gravel and stones of large size, prevent- 

 ing the driving of the slats into it. In such cases it is desirable 

 to make an apron at the base of the slat-work upon which the 

 water will fall as it passes through them and prevent washing out 

 of holes underneath the slats. This apron can be made of boards 

 as an artificial bottom to the trap or pens, but a cheaper and quite 

 as serviceable method is to place evergreen boughs or green 

 underbrush at the base of the slat-work, covering the same with 

 crushed stone or small stones from the bed of the brook, and 

 then with coarse gravel. This feature of construction is very 

 important. If there is a hole in the trap or pens large enough 

 for trout to escape, they will surely do so. In fact, they will dig 

 out under the slat-work if not properly guarded against. It is 

 well to have planks extending over the trap and pens on which 

 one can conveniently stand to dip out the fish. Adjacent to the 

 trap and pens, a rough board shanty can be constructed or a 

 tent can be temporarily used. There will be many stormy and 

 cold days, however, and I advise having a shanty with facilities 

 for heating it, and with a bunk where the attendant can sleep. 

 Add to this equipment a reflecting lantern. Field stations of this 

 description are usually some distance from habitation and the 

 ordinary comforts of camp life should be available to insure good 

 work of the spawn taker. 



I have described one of the field stations operated by the U. 

 S. Fish Commission in Vennont. The accompanying photo- 

 graph gives a more distinct idea of it. The cost of such a sta- 

 tion equipped for work will vary from $30 to $100, according to 

 facilities for obtaining materials of construction, etc. At this sta- 

 tion the first run of trout occurred on Sunday, August 23, when 

 1,650 trout ascended the brook during a rain-storm. Few trout 

 were caught after this date until Sunday, September 6, when 

 about 1,000 more were taken. On September 11 my records 

 show that 3.335 trout had thus been taken. The fish continued 

 to run in schools every rainy day. with a few stragglers every 

 day until the end of the month. October 15 some of the slats 

 to the trap were removed after 7,138 trout had been captured. 

 There is no other tributary to the pond where these trout could 

 run. except in the wet season. In the latter part of September 

 it was discovered that a large number of trout were ascending a 

 "dry brook," so called, in large numbers. At the request of the 



