288 AMERICAN FISH CULTURE. 



XII. 



STEPHEN H. AINSWORTH'S NEW HATCHING-RACE, FOR 

 NATURAL PROPAGATION. 



On a preceding page I have alluded to the loss of ova 

 which the trout culturist sustains by fish spawning in the 

 race at night, or between the stated times of driving them 

 down into the trap for the purpose of manipulating them. 

 Persons who are not thoroughly acquainted with the indi- 

 cations of ripeness of trout, also take many immature eggs, 

 and from lack of experience do not fecundate all they obtain. 

 To obviate such loss, Mr. Ainsworth has invented the 

 hatching-race described below. It is unnecessary to say 

 that he would submit no plan without giving it much 

 deliberate thought; that he is thoroughly practical, as 

 can be judged from his success in matters belonging to his 

 several avocations : i. e. nurseryman, farmer, and stock- 

 raiser. The description of the hatching-race are his own 

 words. 



" First build the race three or four feet wide, the sides 

 of plank, and bottom of plank or stone nicely paved, so as 

 to have the bottom perfectly clean at all times. Cover the 

 whole bottom of the race with wire screens of zinc or of iron 

 painted, about ten or twelve wires to the inch, so as to hold 

 all the spawn that falls on them. Place these screens on 

 half inch strips of wood so as to hold them and the spawn 

 half an inch above the pavement. Nail these screens on to 

 a one inch frame, and place them side by side the whole 

 length of the race ; which may be from ten to fifty feet 

 long, according to the number of spawning trout. 



