CHAPTER VIII. 



HATCHING THE EGGS. 



Glass grilles Their cost Their advantages Cleaning the hatching boxes 

 The egg-shells Artificial ova beds Settling pond Filtering bed Wire grilles 

 Destruction of ova left to Nature Advantage of artificial beds Calif ornian 

 baskets Repairing grilles Overcrowding Way of economising space Compact 

 storage box, 



THERE are more ways than one of dealing with trout eggs. 

 After a careful study of the various systems in use, and after 

 weighing well the evidence, I give my verdict, and give it un- 

 hesitatingly in favour of the glass grille system. I have myself 

 used grilles for more than twenty-five years, and have not yet 

 met with anyone who can give one valid reason for their dis- 

 continuance. Of the arguments brought to bear, that which at 

 first seemed the most plausible was the one of cost, but it would 

 not stand scrutiny. 



The chief item consists of the glass tubes or rods ; but 

 seeing that, apart from actual breakages, glass will last for ages, 

 there is little to allow for depreciation. As to breakages, we all 

 know that glass will break, but with proper care there is but a 

 small loss from this cause. I have carefully noted that which 

 takes place in my own hatcheries, and find that out of every ten 

 thousand glass tubes, about seventy-five per annum get broken, 

 or considerably less than one per cent. As for the wooden parts, 

 it is found in practice that they are less perishable than metal, 

 for with care they last for twenty years, and are good at the end 

 of that time. Grilles can be purchased ready-made for four 

 shillings and sixpence each, and a grille holds from 3,500 to 

 5,000 ova. Taking 4,000 as an average, and allowing that a 

 grille only lasts twenty years, then a grille incubates in the course 



