THE HATCHING AND PROPAGATION OF FISH H 



course, is caused entirely by the climate whether 

 warmer or colder. Then, also, the different tempera- 

 tures of waters in the same neighborhood make a 

 material difference. Thus, black bass commence to 

 spawn soon after the ice leaves. In large shallow 

 lakes and rivers, where the waters warm rapidly, April 

 and early May is their season. In deeper, cooler 

 waters it extends through May, and even into June. 



Perhaps the best fish to illustrate the process of 

 artificial hatching and propagating, is the most popu- 

 lar one with all fishermen the brook trout. The 

 greatest efforts have been directed toward multiply- 

 ing this member of the salmon family on account of 

 its popularity, and absolute success has been attained. 

 October is the regular spawning season of the trout, 

 although September or November may be the time, 

 in the case of very warm or very cold waters. 



Beyond any question the brook trout is absolutely 

 the handsomest and most delicate fish we have in the 

 East. It is found only in the cleanest and purest 

 cold water, the least contamination sufficing to drive 

 it away. Living entirely upon live food, the brook 

 trout rarely, if ever, devours anything dead. As the 

 spawning season approaches, these fish ascend the 

 small streams, seeking shallow spots with a clean 

 gravel bottom, over which a good current flows. 

 Here the female removes the sand with her tail, and, 



