138 How to obtain it. 



heard of water being found in a morning absolutely stopped by 

 the frost. Such a thing was never allowed to happen here. I do 

 not mean to say that a tap has never been accidentally stopped 

 far from it ; but such an occurrence was extremely rare, and the 

 cause mostly unusual. Accidents have, however, happened, and 

 for the benefit of others I will mention some of them. 



I All the hatching boxes are supplied with water by means of 

 taps, as well as the yearling boxes in the yearling house. They are 

 most easily regulated, and are safer as sources of water supply 

 than any other apparatus I have had brought under my notice, 

 but they are not infallible. On one occasion I remember a tap 

 suddenly ceased to work, and nothing would induce the water to 

 resume its course through it. Now all the taps are so arranged 

 that in less than half a minute they can be detached by turning a 

 screw, and in as short a time replaced, so that no time had to be 

 lost in examining the one in question. In it was found a frog i 

 How it got there no one could ever tell. Like the one said to 

 have been found in the middle of a solid rock, the manner in 

 which it came there was a mystery which none could solve. The 

 length of time it had been embedded was a much simpler question, 

 for it must have been discovered the moment it succeeded in 

 getting into position. A leaf has twice accidentally got into a tap 

 and stopped it, but only for a moment, and on one occasion, 

 while the screen was out for a few minutes, a truant trout of four 

 and a half inches came down the spout, but unfortunately did not 

 succeed in stopping the tap, for it passed right through it, and was 

 only discovered, after lapse of many days, by the serious 

 diminution in the number in a box of Alpine char. The trout (a 

 wild fish) had the usual disposition to hide himself, and the box 

 being against the wall of the hatchery, could only be examined 

 from one side, and owing to- this, he had remained unobserved 

 until the mischief was done. When found he was simply gorged 

 with char. 



These occurrences only show what great care is required in 

 a hatchery, and point to the necessity for having everything 

 properly arranged in thorough working order, and being con- 

 tinually watchful to see that they are kept so. Without this care 

 success is impossible. Having water entirely under control means 



