FISH CULTURE. 927 



length of the season is three or four months, sometimes more, and in cold mountain streams 

 it lasts only two months, closing by the middle of January. 



Signs of Spawning. As the season of spawning approaches, the difference of sexes 

 shows more clearly. It is very hard in the summer to tell the difference between amale and 

 female trout. By handling them much and watching them closely the trout breeder comes 

 to know the male and female apart almost instinctively; but he would be puzzled to tell just 

 how he knows it. The male is generally sharper jawed than the female at any season of the 

 year, and lines drawn from his shoulders to his tail would be straight without any bulge 

 in the middle, while the female has a rounder jaw, and even in summer is more protuberant 

 in the middle. These are general signs, and by no means universal. It is only in the spawn 

 ing season that difference of the sexes can be told with any certainty. As this season 

 approaches the distinctions become more marked. The difference in size is one peculiarity, 

 as the eggs grow large and fill the belly of the female. It will not do to mistake food for 

 eggs. A trout recently gorged with food looks just like a female full of eggs; but the food 

 soon disappears, as the trout is an animal of quick digestion, while the swelling caused by 

 the maturing eggs gets larger as the spawning season approaches. The colors of the fish, 

 also, are at that time a guide. The female turns to a dark and sombre hue, while the colors 

 of the males grow very brilliant, a line of brilliant scarlet red often developing itself along 

 his sides on the edge of the belly. 



Natural Spawning. As the spawning season approaches, the trout seek places in 

 the creek adapted to the purpose. These places have a pebbly bottom in shallow water close 

 to the spring or head waters of the creek. The trout will work their way up over the 

 shallows of a stream clear to the source; but if there are springs in the bottom, which is the 

 case with almost all creeks, they will invariably spawn there, without going up farther, or if 

 they find a shallow place with gentle current and gravel bottom anywhei e in the creek, they 

 will use it. Very few of the eggs laid in such a place will come to maturity unless there 

 happens to be a spring. The males sometimes go up the stream first. At this season the 

 males engage in fierce contests for the possession of the females. 



These battles often end in death to one or both of the contestants. That these battles 

 are fierce, the deep wounds left on the dead bodies of the slain will bear witness. They have 

 been known to fight for two days, and then both be killed. However, when they are once 

 mated the battles cease and the pair are hardly ever seriously interfered with. Intruders in 

 any quantity come around, seemingly out of curiosity; but, no matter what their size, they 

 leave as soon as the husband, for the time being, darts at them. These intruders are, per 

 haps, waiting for a chance to devour some of the stray eggs which the female drops. The 

 male and female being paired, go to the chosen place. They lie side by side together when 

 not disturbed; but the male is occupied most of the time in driving off interlopers. It is 

 very curious to see a little male with a big female in charge. Usually the little trout clears 

 the way for the large one without a show of resistance. In the ponds when the trout are fed, 

 the largest get the meat while the little ones get out of the way, and swim to the further side 

 of the pond, and even if the meat is thrown where they are they will not take it until they 

 have waited to see whether it is not the pleasure of the big fellows to claim it. At the 

 spawning season all this is changed ; they will attack a trout three times their size if he comes 

 within less than a respectful distance of the female. Often while the male is driving off one, 

 another on the opposite side will make tender advances; quick as a dart the proper husband 

 returns to chase the gay deceiver. In fact, his time is fully occupied with chasing off 

 intruders. If they are too numerous the female will dart from the nest over which she 

 hovers, to help her chosen mate. 



A nest is made in the gravel by the female. It is simply a shallow hole about six or 

 eight inches in diameter, and about two or three inches deep. This is made by diving down 

 at intervals against the gravel, and as she comes up giving it a flirt to one side with her tail 

 nearly the same motion as may be often observed when trout dart down to the bottom and 

 rub their sides against it to free themselves from parasites. The dipping motion is continued 

 for some days until the nest is large enough to suit her. After lying over this for some time 

 the female is ready to emit a portion of her eggs. The male lies by her side while she does 

 so. However busy he may have been in driving off interlopers, he seems to know by instinct 

 when the female is ready to emit her eggs and is always by her side. At the time she emits 

 her eggs he emits his milt over them. They do this with a curious curl upward, which every 

 trout breeder should see for himself. Very often the male and female lock jaws together and 

 their heads slowly rise, apparently trembling with excitement. They emit eggs and milt until 



