(k>4 



AMERICAN FORESTRY 



be built quite inexpensively of strips of lumber set perpen- 

 dicularly in the water and about an inch apart. This al- 

 lows the smaller fish to continue their way up the stream 

 and keeps back only the larger, which are the most valu- 

 able from a productive point of view. A similar fence is 

 then constructed at the entrance with a triangular shaped 

 hole provided where the oncoming fish may enter. During 

 the day the trap is closed and the fish stripped in turn 

 and thrown into the waters above the trap, thus pre- 

 venting them from mixing with those awaiting stripping. 

 Usually the trap is left open at night and the catch 

 "worked" the day following. 



Trapping as described above cannot always be reverted 

 to. In many instances, generally in lakes, it is necessary 

 to adopt the old time seine or drag-net if the fish are not 

 gathering at some inlet. A description of this method is 

 not deemed necessary since almost anyone knows how 

 to operate a seine. 



Stripping consists of. holding the fish by the head in 

 the right hand, belly and tail downward over a pan in 

 which is a small quantity of water. The fingers of the 

 left hand close round the body of the fish in such man- 

 ner as to massage the belly until the eggs have been 

 ejected. When ready to spawn the trout is very sensi- 

 tive, and a slight touch will often cause them to eject 

 one or more eggs. The stripping, while simple, should 

 be done by some one skilled in the operation since the 

 fish must be handled rapidly and correctly in order to 

 get them back in the water before harm has resulted and 

 obtain the greatest amount of eggs possible. A new 

 operator will often fail in getting all the eggs or will 

 damage the fish. In the hands of a skilled stripper the 

 loss will seldom exceed one per cent of the number of 

 fish handled. They are stripped in a ratio of three to 

 one or, for every three females stripped, one male fish 

 is stripped of his "melt" or fertilizing sperm cells which 

 have been previously described. To add, though, in 

 this instance: A microscopic examination of the trout 

 egg will reveal two tiny holes opposite each other and 

 penetrating approximately one-third the way through. 

 This male fertilizer immediately collects in these tiny 

 holes and is at once sealed in by nature. Thus is the 

 egg made fertile. 



The collected eggs are called "green" in their first 

 stages and may be safely handled and shipped to distant 

 points with proper care. Boxes, or crates, about two 

 feet deep by two feet square are provided with an open 

 space at the bottom to allow the escape of water. The 

 first crate is lowered into the box and held two inches 

 off the floor by means of cleats. On the crate there is 

 first placed a sheet of gauze, following this, a layer of 

 water-soaked lake moss is placed and a thousand to 

 fifteen hundred, or possibly four or five times as many, 

 eggs spread about over the wet moss. In this manner 

 crates are inserted one on top of the other until the last 

 crate is reached, which is filled with cracked ice and this, 

 melting, serves to keep the whole mass below wet and 

 . cool at all times. 



After collection the eggs are taken to various hatch- 

 eries where they are placed in hatching troughs. These 



consist of ordinary lumber troughs, approximately ten 

 feet long by ten inches deep and the same in width. They 

 are placed parallel about two feet apart in a building that 

 is kept at the proper trout temperature by means of an 

 ordinary stove. It should be kept just warm enough 

 so that the water will not freeze. Into each of these 

 troughs is turned a stream of constantly flowing water. 

 The end of the trough where the water enters is raised a 

 couple of inches in order to give the water a short, sheer 

 drop into the trough, thus thoroughly aerating it. Next, 

 the eggs are placed in hatching trays, from three to 

 five thousand per tray. The trays, just fitting in the 

 trough, are then submerged and may be placed one on 

 top the other as long as they are under water. 



Next follows the work of "picking" the eggs. This 

 consists of taking the trays from the trough in turn and 

 closely examining them for infertile eggs and those 

 attacked by disease or otherwise injured. They are quite 

 easy of detection since a few days in water will tend to 

 whiten those which are infertile, diseased, or injured. 

 The fertile, healthy egg is a pure transparent amber. 

 Every tray should come under close inspection at least 

 once every day and oftener if time is available. It is 

 vitally necessary to keep them cleanly picked in order to 

 prevent the spread of ever-present disease. 



The first intimation of embryo will come in only a 

 few days after being placed in the troughs. By holding 

 the egg lightly between the thumb and fore-finger and 

 turning it toward a strong light, veins, or, "bloodshot" 

 will be plainly visible, spreading from the center of the 

 egg. Gradually this bloodshot appearance will work to- 

 ward the center where a spot will form. Later, from the 

 spot, a head and tail will form, gradually extending 

 until it has protruded through the egg. The born fish 

 now has a strikingly odd appearance a head and tail 

 appended to a sac. This is as it should be. The sac 

 contains the food which will keep the little fellow 

 alive as it gradually stretches out in an oval shape form- 

 ing his body. From this stage on he realizes his im- 

 portance as a fish, taking his chances against the current 

 in the bottom of the trough and his living from the 

 microscopic water life. After a month, although ap- 

 pearing as little else than an eye and a tail, they will 

 swim vigorously, play, and suck blood from tiny bits of 

 liver placed within their troughs. After another month 

 they will eat. greedily and do well on the stronger meat 

 of beef heart. They may be, and often are, placed in 

 the public streams in this period of infancy although at 

 a decided loss. 



Without question it is better to keep these young trout, 

 or fry, in retaining ponds for a period of from two to 

 six months before placing them in the public waters. 



Thus, may you learn of the problem. In the streams 

 of the Rocky Mountains there are many places where 

 spawn may be taken ; there are many, very many, hatch- 

 ery sites. The construction of traps and hatcheries and 

 the work of hatching does not take a very large outlay 

 in money. Comparing the outlay in cash to the benefits 

 derived, the cost is insignificant indeed. Fifteen hundred 

 (Continued on page 688) 



