CHAPTER XII. 



REARING THE FRY. 



Commencing to feed Training The right kind of food Time for turning 

 out Entomostraca Grated liver Mode of feeding Feeding machines Shrimp 

 paste Chopping machine Transfer to rearing ponds The old plan The new plan 

 Floating boxes Ponds to be kept quiet Cutting the grass Pond bottoms to be kept 

 clean Earth in ponds Scum on the water Fungus Salt Thinning out the fish. 



\ A 7E have now reached a very important point in the course of 

 fish-cultural work the time at which the little fish begin to 

 take food. When they have nearly absorbed the sac, and for that 

 reason have " unpacked " and scattered themselves over the boxes, 

 they may be allowed a little light. A very good way of supplying 

 this want is by making one set of lids do for two boxes, that is to 

 say only half covering them. At the Solway Fishery the boxes 

 are arranged in couples, side by side, and the lid is placed so as to 

 half cover each of them. The lower half of the box, which was 

 left uncovered during the " alevin " stage, is now half covered, 

 like the rest. 



A short while before the complete absorption of the umbilical 

 -sac a few of the fish will bs seen to rise from the bottom of the 

 hatching or rearing boxes, and for the first time take up their 

 position, as if they had an object in view. They have their heads 

 to the stream, and appear more like fish. If some particles of 

 chopped egg, or indeed of almost any kind, be allowed to float 

 down with the current, they will turn aside to seize them as they 

 pass. Soon the number of fish acting thus will be largely 

 increased, and from this time forward they require regular feeding 

 and attention. There has been a good deal of controversy as to 

 the best time at which to commence feeding young trout, some 

 persons holding that there is no need for it until the umbilical sac 



