128 



Til iri //-First Aniiiuil Meeting 



Xow lot us assume for the sake of comparison that Lot Xo. 

 4 is an average of the twenty-one months' old hrook trout reared 

 throughout the country. Certainly fish of this age weighing 3.3 

 ounces., probably 3.5 ounces with males included, (commercial 

 fish culturists begin to market their fish the following April 

 \\\\vn tliey desire a standard weight of 5 ounces or three fish to 

 the pound ) witli 93 per cent yielding spawn, averaging 389 eggs 

 each, would seem to be up to the standard, and we obtain the fol- 

 lowing convincing showing as to the value of the extra food 

 supply : 



A query naturally arises as to the exact source of this excess 

 Q^g production. Is it the direct result of the stimulation of the 

 ovaries, by the extra food supply, to such an extent as to increase 

 the nund)cr of embryos on the one hand, or on the other, is the 

 lesser nourished fish unable to develop and mature the full num- 

 ber of germs initiated ? Courtesy to other contributors prompts 

 me to refrain from trespassing further on the very limited time 

 at the disposal of the society, by following up this branch of mv 

 subject further than by the suggestion that it will afford the stu- 

 deut a very interesting and profitable field for further thought 

 during some leisure hour. 



Before closing I wish to state very positively that I do not 

 advocate full feeding for adults. If range, temperature, and 

 conditions generally are favorable, nothing but the best of re- 

 sults will follow such a course with fish under two years of age. 

 The remarkable growth during this period coupled with the ex- 

 tensive demands made on the system in maturing the product of 

 the ovaries, can only he ]u-ovidod for by a most generous system 

 of feeding. 



For tlu" benefit of those who may wish to study this matter 

 uiorc closely, 1 allach herewith a detailed record of our spawn- 

 ing o|)ei-alioiis j'oi- puhlicatioii in the transactions of the Society. 



