American Fislicries Society. 21 \ 



struggles as the o|H'rator ceases, only to recommence with re- 

 newed vigor as he continues. Fortunately they have but little 

 body slime; the scales are also moderately large, so that they 

 are not so difficult to hold as they would otherwise be. There 

 is a tendency to ovarian troubles, plugging, etc. Eight in the 

 midst of a free flow of eggs the vent may become as efl'ectually 

 plugged as though closed by a valve, though an abundant supply 

 of eggs may still be plainly felt in the abdomen. 



Prior to the present year there had usually been a difficulty 

 in securing milt when actually needed to impregnate the eggs, 

 though it flows freely while the males were being extricated from 

 the nets. Heretofore the flsh were placed in live boxes over night 

 and sj^awned the next morning. The plan was varied the pres- 

 ent season the spawning operations closing the night's work. 

 The flow of milt was more abundant and of better quality, and 

 as upwards of eighty per. cent of the females were found to be 

 ripe, there was an improvement both in quantity and quality of 

 the eggs taken. This method has the additional advantage, that 

 the spent fish are at once released without being unnecessarily 

 injured by confinement in the live l)Oxes. 



Golden trout eggs do not stand transportation as well as 

 those from the brook trout, either in the green or eyed stage. 

 There is also greater loss amongst them during the \arious stages 

 of incubation, whether as a result of imperfect impregnation, or 

 arrested segmentation, I cannot say. Tht' fry are somewliat 

 longer and more slender than brook trout, and while the yokt; 

 sac is smaller, it is absorbed more slowly. 1 might also add that 

 it is more completely absorbed before the fry can be induced to 

 take food. In addition to the bars on the sides the shoulders 

 and l)acks are im'giilarly covered with numerous black blotches 

 of varying sizes and sha])es. 



The real difficulties in the way of i)roi)agation now apju'ar. 

 In fact, thes^' difficulties are always api)earing. Every lish cul- 

 turist who has handled this variety has met with more or less 

 failure, usually more. If there is a ^Mark Tajiley among thi< 

 membership I would suggest that this golden trout is rlie fish lie 

 is looking for. lie can get all the honor and glory he wants. 



Right now I want to em]ihasize three essential characteristic 

 habits of the i^olden trout. At all stages of liis existence he is a 



