64 Fortieth Annual Meeting 



during the present year his fish hatcheries had put on the 

 'New York market over 30 tons of trout running about three 

 to the pound. This is an important matter which is now 

 under discussion. 



Mr. E. W. Cobb, St. Paul, Minn. : There is one point that 

 has not been touched on. Many commercial fish culturists 

 have to get their fry into the ponds in February, and if 

 they cannot market their fish in the winter they will be at 

 a disadvantage. That will make a difference in the supply 

 of commercial trout eggs. I do not know whether you can 

 exactly call that a matter of protection, but it has given us 

 our supply for the public streams, as the fish we have in 

 the public hatcheries are principally from commercial 

 trout eggs. 



Mr. Hurlbut: I think Mr. Cobb makes a mistake in 

 that altogether. If we can have a market the year around 

 we make preparations accordingly. Last year we put trout 

 into the Boston market except for six weeks. This year 

 we have overcome that difficulty and preparations have 

 been made to put them in every week, because the people 

 want them. We do not sell our female trout when the 

 eggs are worth as much as the trout. You need not think 

 the commercial man that gets his living out of his business 

 will spoil his business by throwing away the eggs. I do 

 not think any of us would do that. But it is a fact with 

 us as commercial men that we have three females to every 

 male in our ponds. That will be a fair average. If a man 

 is careful and has his ponds adapted to it, and makes his 

 preparations as in any other business, he will get along all 

 right. As a matter of fact I can tell in advance our output 

 in a year as well as in any business you can find. We have 

 it down to that ; and as I say, we make preparations. Of 

 course unforeseen accidents may happen ; but barring them, 

 we put trout into the Boston market every week through 

 the year. At my little place alone this open market makes a 

 difference of from v$500 to $1,000 a year. 



I am talking to you from experience. Mr. Titcomb knows 



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