Trout Breeding. 69 



of caution to the inexperienced may be desirable. Build 

 your trap to resist the greatest freshet the stream is 

 liable to develop. The run of trout at such times will 

 be greatest. Be careful to get a foundation that will 

 not be undermined by the constant washing of the cur- 

 rent between the slats. It is usually best to entirely 

 surround the sides of a trap with slats rather than to 

 depend upon the natural embankments. It is not 

 necessary to use narrow slats for the sides of the trap, 

 as no water passes through them, and the only object 

 is to secure an inclosure from which fish can be easily 

 dipped out. For a stream 6 feet wide I should build 

 an inclosure about 6 feet square, the V extending into 

 the inclosure about 3 feet. 



"In many localities it will be found possible to dig 

 side ditches above the trap and inclosures, at right 

 angles, with the stream, in order to convey surplus 

 water away from the trap, and lessen the danger of 

 washout or inundation. The bottom of such ditches 

 should be considerably above low water mark to carry 

 off surplus high water. 



"A convenient place for the pens is just above the 

 trap, so that the trout can be dipped from the latter 

 into the former. They are constructed of the same 

 material of which the trap is made, the upper side of 

 the trap inclosure being used as the lower side or end 

 of a series of pens. These should be made in shape 

 and size to suit the location and number of fish ex- 

 pected to be captured, and the same precautions should 

 be taken with them as with the trap to guard against 

 washouts. In many instances the bed of the brook is 

 hard gravel and stones of large size, preventing the 

 driving of the slats into it. In such cases it is desirable 

 to make an apron at the base of the slat-work, upon 



