SECOND AND THIRD TEAKS. 127 



takes place from obstruction of respiration. This, 

 however, occurs only in wounded fishes, though 

 sometimes the wound is scarcely perceptible. Fe- 

 male fishes frequently die during the spawning sea- 

 son from disease of the ovary, causing the eggs to 

 increase greatly in size. We have seen them at 

 least one inch in diameter ; the pressure of this 

 enormously distended mass upon the intestines 

 causes inflammation, resulting in death. This most 

 frequently occurs in females who have been re- 

 moved from other waters. Should the supply of 

 water be insufficient, of course the fishes will die. 

 Great loss took place from this cause at Williams- 

 port, Pennsylvania, a few years since, nearly the 

 entire stock having been destroyed. Over-feeding 

 in fish, as in mammals, renders them peculiarly 

 liable to disease. It is the experience of almost 

 every fish-farmer that his percentage of loss is al- 

 ways in the inverse ratio to his knowledge, care, 

 and skill. The ponds will not run themselves, 

 but must be carefully attended to, and any neglect 

 on the part of the proprietor is sure to be followed 

 by disaster and loss. 



The size which trout will attain in a given time 

 varies even with the most careful attention to their 

 food. Once a dwarf always a dwarf, is the invari- 

 able rule. We have raised fishes in one year to 

 the length of six inches, while in the same period 



