126 PRACTICAL TROUT CULTURE. 



depend the profit of the business. Trout fed for 

 four years upon liver or heart, and then sold at 

 one dollar per pound would certainly add nothing 

 to the pocket of the breeder; and whether trout 

 can be raised with profit for market is as yet an 

 unsolved question. If eggs or fry could be sold at 

 even one-half their present market value, it would 

 be the height of folly to dispose of the parent fishes 

 at even their present high market value ; it would 

 be killing the goose which lays the golden egg. A 

 female trout of one pound weight \\ ill afford one 

 thousand spawn, for which eight dollars ran bn 

 readily obtained ; and, as far as we are aware, all 

 the, pecuniary benefits of private fish-farms have, 

 in this country at least, been derived mostly from 

 the sale of spawn and young fry. 



Many of our trout spawn at the end of tin -ir 

 second year, but this is not always the case. As far 

 as can be ascertained about two-fifths is the aver- 

 age ; the spawn from these is frequently much 

 larger than that obtained from older fishes. 



The diseases to which pond trout are liable are 

 but few, and these mostly result from ignorance or 

 inattention on the part of the proprietor. A fun- 

 goid growth is often seen upon fishes who, by 

 fighting or accident, have become wounded. Tins 

 growth appears first upon the wound, and, spread- 

 ing rapidly, soon reaches the gills, when death soon 



