56 



It is almost a universal custom now, with owners of small gardens, 

 to buy their young cabbages and tomatoes and other vegetables of 

 the large producers, because it is cheaper than to start them them- 

 selves. Farmers also buy their pigs instead of breeding them, from 

 the same cause. 



Now it is only reas(^nable to expect the same rule to prevail in 

 iish raising ultimately as it does at present. Many persons who have 

 ponds and streams, and want to keep them stocked, will prefer, and 

 will find it cheaper, to buy their young stock every year, than to 

 work all winter at iiatching the eggs. 



The trade in young stock, therefore, looks as if it would be perma- 

 nent, and appears to be a legitimate source from which to expect an 

 income in trout raising. This form?, at present, a very considerable 

 item in the business. 



Young fry are in great demand in New England, at twenty-five 

 dollars ($25) a thousand, and yearlings at one hundred dollars ($100) 

 a thousand. Many thousands of them could be sold at this day for 

 these, and even at an advance on these, prices, if the fish could be 

 had. The supply last year (1871) did not nearly keep up with the 

 demand in New England. We here find in the sale of young stock 

 quite an addition to the sources of the trout growers' income ; and I 

 am informed, by those who are operating near the large cities, that a 

 very considerable revenue could be obtained, at their places, by 

 charging an admission fee to visitors. 



There is also money to be made by buying and fattening wild trout 

 for the market, where you can buy them cheap enough. Good, 

 thriving trout, less than four years old, will double their weight in a 

 year, and sometimes mucli more. Therefore, if you put 1,000 pounds 

 of them in a pond securely protected, they will, in a year, become 

 2,000 pounds ; and the feed, in the mean time, will not cost over 

 $150. That is to say, the increase will cost you not over fifteen cents 

 a pound. 



When the various sources of income are taken into account, in con- 

 nection with the wide margins for profit, it is obvious that successful 

 operations cannot but pay well. I would say, however, in conclusion, 

 that I do not wish to hold out false inducements to persons to go into 

 the business, witli the hope of making great fortunes. The item of 

 risk is a very serious one yet, and small operators cannot expect to 

 make more than a fair living. With many it will not pay at all, 

 while it is reserved for only the very successful, and for those who have 

 the few gi-eat water facilities of the country, to make the great fortunes. 



