How to obtain it. 



129 



rats and foul smells. There are also many other inconveniences. 

 I have tried both systems, and I am greatly in favour of open 

 gutters on the surface. They are simple, and add but little to the 

 cost of the hatchery ; they are convenient and clean, and are 

 Always open to view. 



The floor itself, I need hardly say, should not be level, but 

 : should have a fall one way or the other to suit circumstances, and 

 : to cause all water to run off immediately into -the gutters. It 

 '.should be frequently washed, not with a floorcloth, but with clean 

 ..water and a broom. This should be done by the manager himself, 

 iOr by someone working directly under him, as it requires to be 

 ; done with care. . On no account should any carelessness or undue 

 -roughness be tolerated in a hatchery. .The disarrangement of a 

 t, pipe :or a. tap, or a blow on one of the hatching boxes, may do 

 -_ serious damage, and whoever cleans the floor should be acquainted 

 with the working of all such contrivances. 



The door of a hatchery should be kept shut, or rats, mice or 

 birds will get in, and it is sometimes difficult to get them out 

 again. Rats seem naturally attracted to a hatchery, and if they 

 can get in they will. The outlet for the water should be carefully 

 guarded by a grating, and every precaution taken to prevent 

 any intruders of this kind gaining access to the hatching boxes. . 



Where lead or iron pipes are used for bringing in the water, 

 it should be borne well in mind that either may be very injurious. 

 I have seen excellent work done with them, and I have also seen 

 great destruction caused by them. The first hatchery I ever built, 

 which was erected in one of the suburbs of a large town, was 

 ; supplied from the waterworks at the rate of sixpence per thousand 

 gallons. The water was excellent, but occasionally repairs were 

 done by the company, and on these occasions it would fora short 

 time run very thick and yellow, and would poison my little fishes. 

 In the same way when the water has been shut off a hatchery for 

 a few months during the summer the pipes would corrode, and 

 afterwards send down a quantity of poisonous matter, which might 

 do great injury. Care should, therefore, be taken that they are 

 thoroughly clean before hatching begins. This applies not only 

 to the supply pipes, but also to the hatchery itself, and all the 

 apparatus which it contains. 

 K 



