44 On Stocking. 



the two-year-olds, but it was not less than .80 

 for the nine months. The attendance was prac- 

 tically equal to the whole time, one man and one 

 girl for the same time, say 78. The cost of 

 rent, labour in renewals, wear and tear, cultivating 

 the ponds by drying and re-earthing the bottoms 

 and sides, must also be to some extent a matter 

 of guess-work, but if taken at 1 per cent, on the 

 structural cost of the 20 ponds, which was between 

 2000 and 3000, a sum of 250 per annum 

 is obtained. Personally, I think, 10 per cent. 

 is too little to allow for this item in most cases ; 

 but the ponds at Howietoun are very well con- 

 structed, and the annual renewing of the earth- 

 surface of the bottoms and sides, for purposes of 

 sanitation, is the principal item of expense. In the 

 case of such ponds as Fishery Boards are likely to 

 construct, from 1 2 per cent, to 1 5 per cent, should 

 be estimated for, especially since, if the first cost 

 is reduced, not only are more repairs entailed 

 annually, but the capital sum on which the 

 estimate is based is lower, thus necessitating a 

 higher percentage. The cost of 30 gallons of 

 Ova grown into yearlings will thus be : 



Cost of three-month-old fry, . . . .450 15 



Rent, repairs and renewals, etc, . . . 250 



Cost of food, , 80 



Attendance, . ' . . . . . 78 



Cost of 30 gallons of Ova = 120 boxes of fry 



= from 140,000 to 200, 000 yearlings, . 85815 



