HATCHING-HOUSES AND APPAEATUS. 55 



disturbance of the spawn by the dropping of water 

 is apt to cause serious injury to them. A strong 

 spring upon the door to prevent it from being care- 

 lessly left open is of more consequence than may 

 at first sight appear, as fowls and birds of all de- 

 scriptions are very fond of the spawn, and will eat 

 it upon every opportunity, probably taking it for 

 some new species of grain. Rats and mice are 

 sometimes very destructive, if they make their 

 appearance late in the season, as may be known 

 by finding of a morning the spawn piled in heaps, 

 instead of lying neatly upon the tubes. The trays 

 must be covered ; half-inch boards, cut to proper 

 lengths and notched to admit the spouts, will an- 

 swer well, and then poison the rats. Be not de- 

 ceived by venders of nostrums "Dead Shot," 

 < < Sudden Death, " " Phosphorus Paste, ' ' etc. We 

 have fed rats and mice on these, and they seemed 

 to enjoy them ; but arsenic and strychnine act, 

 and act promptly, and no second dose is required. 

 With any proper amount of care there is no danger 

 of injury to outside animals. 



For conducting water from the spring to the fil- 

 tering-box, iron pipe is the best. This can be ob- 

 tained at a low cost,* and will last a life-time. 

 Lead will, in some cases, affect the water, and terra 



* We can furnish it at five cents per pound. 



