938 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



Salmon and salmon trout, as we have heretofore remarked, will, when they are young, 

 accept food that is rather less finely prepared Their food is of the same general kind, but as 

 they are larger fish they need more of it. Salmon trout can be kept in confinement until they 

 weigh ten or more pounds, whereas, the largest tame trout we have had did not exceed four; 

 but few reached three, it being doubtful whether fish ever attain as full development in the 

 domesticated as in the wild state. As salmon trout will grow to weigh a hundred pounds in 

 Lake Superior, it is probable they may reach twenty in suitable preserves, although the 

 largest we have is not over nine, but he is healthy and is still growing. Salmon trout have 

 been taught to eat trout that died of a natural death; although they at first utterly refused 

 such food, they came in the end to accept it willingly. Trout seven inches long have been 

 disposed of in that way. 



Trout and salmon, the latter especially, will get so tame after a time, that they will take 

 the food out of your fingers, in fact they will take the fingers too. Their teeth are sharp, 

 and make scratches like needles. They may be taught to jump for their food by holding it 

 a short distance above the water, or may be made to come up and take it out of the pan you 

 are holding. Feed in the middle of the day when the sun is well up, any time from ten to 

 three is good. Make it a general rule to feed slowly, and give them as much as they will eat 

 without wasting. 



Although trout and salmon become so tame that they may be made pets, some hybrids in 

 the State hatching works are so shy that they keep as much as possible out of sight, and can 

 hardly be fed These were a cross of the milt of the salmon, with the brook trout eggs, and 

 perhaps knew that they were monstrosities. There io a board covering to the edges of the 

 preserve in which they are kept, and they hide under it and run hither and thither in fright 

 and confusion if any one attempts to get a close view of them. 



Salted food has been tried for the feeding of trout, but not with satisfactory results. 

 They do not seem to like it, although it is possible they might be accustomed to it if any 

 important advantage was connected with its use. It, however, ordinarily costs as much or more 

 than the fresh meats, and cannot be superior to them. There is much of the offal of large 

 cities which may yet be utilized as fish food. AVhere it is allowed to go to waste and run 

 into the rivers adjacent to markets, it invariably attracts wild fish to such places, and if it is 

 satisfactory food for them, it would be equally agreeable to their tame and less particular 

 brethren. The fish breeder must not rely upon getting his food of any kind for nothing, as 

 although most country butchers throw away their beef lights, they will put a price on them 

 the moment they find they are in demand. Three cents a pound is the price usually asked 

 for such food. 



The size to which a trout may grow is not very well settled ; so many * fish stories &quot; 

 have been told that discredit is thrown even upon well authenticated assertions. Trout may 

 in exceptional cases and in large waters, attain the weight of eight or ten pounds, but a four 

 pound trout is generally considered to be of pretty good size. This question of size is 

 interesting rather to the sportsman than to the trout farmer. It is considered that small 

 trout are the best to eat, those from one-quarter to one-half a pound. A better market may 

 always be found for fish of this size than for any other. 



Precaution Against Escape. There will always be a difficulty in so arranging 

 ponds, screens, outlets, and inlets as to keep the young fry in their proper pond. The water 

 is very apt to work holes around the screens or rather around the boxes containing the 

 screens. The young fry will make their way through a wonderfully small hole, no matter 

 how long the distance may be. They will also get through between the screen and the 

 socket, unless these are very well fitted together, and wherever there is a crack into which 

 they can get their large heads, they will put them in so tightly that they cannot extricate 

 themselves, but will die. In short, wherever you can run the blade of a jack-knife, there the 

 young trout will go. In making a pond for them, it is best to beat the edges with a spade until 

 they are perfectly smooth, or, better yet, to put a board around the edges to the depth of a foot. 



Cleaning Screens. Tf the screens are not kept well cleaned, two consequences follow. 

 First, the water runs over the top of the screens instead of through them, and the young 

 trout escape; and second, when the screens are taken out to be cleaned a rush of water 

 follows their removal, carrying away with it numbers of trout into the next pond. Whenever 

 you are going to clean the screens drive all the trout from their vicinity, then take the screens 

 out and wash them with a stiff brush. They may be first raked off with a rake if they are 

 made of slats, and then taken out and cleaned. They require attention always once and 

 sometimes twice a day. 



