FIRST YEAR. 121 



The amount of food required varies ; atmospheric 

 changes appear to affect greatly the appetites of the 

 young fishes, and we have found even a difference 

 in the readiness in which food is taken at different 

 hours of the day. In summer they, like wild trout, 

 feed best either immediately after sunrise or a short 

 time before sunset, and even at these hours it some- 

 times happens that they appear to have lost all 

 relish for food. The fact we know the "why " is 

 beyond our knowledge. As an average, fifty thou- 

 sand young will require when six months old, and 

 well supplied with maggots, about a pound of 

 chopped heart thrice weekly, though the amount 

 varies greatly. The practiced fish culturist can 

 see at a glance when his fishes have had enough. 

 Over-feeding is to be avoided, as it tends to inter- 

 fere with the breeding powers of the trout. 



A case in point came to our knowledge during 

 the past year. A wealthy gentleman of a neigh- 

 boring State constructed a well-appointed fish 

 farm, with well-stocked ponds. To his surprise 

 during the spawning season but few eggs could be 

 obtained, and but a small percentage of these could 

 be impregnated. We were consulted in regard to 

 the matter, and our first look at his fishes showed 

 us plainly the cause of the trouble. The fishes 

 were enormous, the bodies greatly swelled, the 

 whole cavity of the abdomen being filled with lay- 



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