Fish Gulturists'' Association. 11 



familiar to them ; but as the discussions and proceedings of this body 

 of earnest laborers in the comparatively new field of pisciculture are 

 published far and wide, for the information of those who look to it 

 as the fountain-head of knowlege on the subject, I would like to give 

 the results of ray own experience and observations, that have extended 

 through a period of nearly five years. 



I do not care to enter into a discussion as to the comparative 

 health or constitution of fish from eggs taken in either way, 

 although it is well known that I believe that the eggs laid in 

 the natural manner will produce the hardiest fish, contrary to the 

 opinion of some of our most distinguished trout breeders ; but 

 as I have so many letters from beginners who have failed in hath 

 ways of taking spawn, I find that there are more diSiculties to be 

 encountered by the novice than have ever been published. 



The most general complaint is, that it is too much trouble to take 

 the eggs of a few fish by hand ; that from a pond containing but a 

 few hundred fish, there are but very few spawners ripe at a time, and 

 the operator goes to the raceway and bags all the fish in it many 

 mornings for nothing, and his attendance is required every morning, 

 no matter how stormy it may be, and Sundays as well as week days, 

 for our trout have not yet been educated up to the point of religious 

 observances. 



On the contrary, the one who uses the Ainsworth screens can wait 

 a more favorable time, if the day be cold or stormy, as a delay of a 

 day or two will make no difierence, and there is usually a time in 

 each week when the weather is mild enough for the purpose. 



The following is the record, for part of the season, of one of my 

 ponds, which contains 300 four-year old fish : 



1872. 



Nov. 18 1 J 500 spawn 



Nov. 21, eight days after 5 ,000 " 



Dec. 2, eleven days after 2,500 " 



Dec. 12, ten days after 8,000 " 



Dec. 20, eight days after 6,000 " 



Dec. 28, eight days after 1 , 500 " 



1873. 



Jan. 8, eleven days after 6,500 " 



Jan. 17, nine days after 2,000 " 



Jan. 25, eight days after 11,500 " 



