PREPARATION OF YEARLINGS. 81 



occupied in transferring the fish from the preparing-boxes to the 

 travelling tanks on the cart is less than a quarter of an hour. 



PREPARING TWO-YEAR-OLD TROUT. 



The two-year-old trout for the market are grown in the island 

 pond No. 13, and in ponds 14 and 16. The island pond will rear 

 about 30,000 two-year-old trout, and ponds 14 and 16 10,000 

 each. These ponds are netted with an ordinary seine-net of small 

 mesh, made of cotton and untanned, it being found they last quite 

 as well in fresh water, and the white colour, by driving the fish 

 forward, as greatly increases the catching capacity of the net in 

 the ponds as it would decrease the same in the sea by scaring the 

 fish. The seine-nets have a light chain substituted for the bottom 

 rope, so that they absolutely sweep the bottom of the pond. As 

 two-year-old fish generally swim in shoals, it is often difficult, 

 especially at the beginning of the season, to avoid catching too 

 many, and it is frequently necessary to allow several thousand to 

 escape before the net is completely drawn. The two-year-olds are 

 then removed with a large landing-net, the bag of which is made 

 of soft peach netting so as not to hurt the fish. They are carried 

 in this net to the despatch-house, and placed at once in the large 

 20-feet tank, which is covered over with the same soft material 

 to prevent their jumping out. There they remain for several days, 

 according to the distance they are going to be sent, the tempera- 

 ture of the water, and condition of the trout. Twelve hours before 

 despatch they are counted out into the small preparing-boxes, not 

 more than 50 being placed in one box. Prepared in this way, 

 two-year-olds make magnificent travellers, and the loss even of a 

 single fish is very rare. 



PREPARING LARGE TROUT. 



When it is necessary to forward large trout, the square concrete 

 tank in the despatch-house is filled. Each side of this tank measures 

 17 feet 3 inches, and the depth of water is generally regulated 

 to 4 feet. Large trout require at least a fortnight's preparation. 

 They are caught with the spawning-bag nets, carefully selected, 



