XLIII.-CHEAP FIXTURES FOR THE HATCHING OF SALMON. 



By Chas. G. Atkins. 



1.— SCOPE OF THE PAPER. 



I,^ is proposed to limit this paper to the consideration of the construction, 

 fitting, and management of the simplest houses and apparatus suitable for 

 the hatching and rearing of salmon up to the complete absorption of the 

 yolk sack, that being the time when it is customary to turn the young fish 

 out to shift for themselves; and it is hoped that the instructions given -will 

 be so plain and yet so complete that a person previously entirely ignorant 

 of the whole business can without further direction set up an efficient 

 establishment. No attempt will be made to explain the construction of 

 the more elaborate devices that have lately come into so general use, since 

 these devices have for their main purpose the saving of space in establish- 

 ments where large quantities of eggs are to be developed up to the shipping 

 point, and few or none to be hatched out ; though some of these are also 

 available for hatching, and to a certain extent for the rearing of the young 

 fish. 



For the most part the same apparatus and management are applicable 

 to Atlantic and land-locked salmon, Pacific salmon, and brook trout. The 

 Atlantic and land-locked salmon, both in the egg and in the sack stage, 

 are so closely alike as to be practically indistinguishable. Indeed, the 

 latest conclusion of special students of the Salmonicke is that they all belong 

 to the same species, Salmo solar. Be this as it may, their habits and re- 

 quirements during these early stages are, so far as known, identical. On 

 these fish my personal observations have been mostly made, and to them, 

 therefore, the instructions of this paper may be considered as more especially 

 applicable. Yet the difference between the treatment they require and 

 that applicable to Pacific salmon is so slight that all the rules laid down 

 may, it is believed, with perfect safety be followed in the management of 

 the latter, except in certain minutiae, which depend mainly on the greater 

 size and hardihood of the Pacific salmon, partly on their adaptation 

 to warmer water, and when not specially mentioned will readily suggest 

 themselves to the common sense of the operator. Similar observations 

 may be made with reference to the brook trout. The same apparatus, 

 with some possible change in management, will answer also the very best 

 purpose in the hatching of lake trout. 



60 F 945 



