SALMON AND SEA-TBOUT 



per cent, of them should hatch out. This is, 

 therefore, obviously the best way to proceed. A 

 very much larger number of eggs will, however, 

 be hatched out in properly-chosen artificial beds 

 than would be the case if they were left to 

 nature. 



The necessary qualities of a good artificial bed 

 are, a good supply of clean water which is not 

 liable if there is a spate to deposit sediment on 

 the eggs, protection from light, and protection 

 from the many creatures which prey upon the 

 ova. The hatching beds may be so arranged 

 that the young fish may escape as soon as they 

 like after hatching out, but it is best to watch 

 and protect them for at any rate the first few 

 weeks after they have begun to feed, and while 

 continuing the feeding, to allow those of the fish 

 that wish to escape. 



The rearing of young salmon and sea-trout is 

 practically the same as that of the common 

 trout, except that they require more water. If 

 kept in rearing ponds they grow more quickly 

 than they do when left to find food for them- 

 selves. While young, the salmon is marked 

 with transverse bars of a darker colour than the 

 rest of the body. During the time it bears these 



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