26 TROUT CULTURE, 



good and cheap. The trap or traps should be carefully 

 searched every morning, and the necessary steps taken, 

 according as the fishes found are ripe or not. Where 

 the trap is at the head of a stream, a piece of fine wire 

 netting will arrest the progress of the trout upwards. 

 Where some are expected to come down as well as up, 

 a double trap may be set up, the two gratings pointing 

 inwards and towards each other so as to form stops 

 at each end, both for ascending and descending fishes. 

 It need scarcely be pointed out that the size of the 

 trap, of the gratings, waterways, &c., must be 

 governed by the size of stream, number of trout to be 

 expected, and the numerous other considerations, for 

 which it is impossible to give directions in a general 

 description. Such details must be left to the judg- 

 ment of the individual requiring the apparatus. 



In the absence of a trap or traps the streams must 

 be daily looked over when the season commences, 

 to discover the presence of nests or " redds" as they 

 are called. A disturbance of the gravel is a sure sign 

 of work going on, though not necessarily of eggs 

 being deposited, as the males often come up and stir 

 up the gravel to entice the females, or, as one friend 

 says "just to practice making nests;" as many of 

 these preliminary nests have been carefully searched 

 without finding any ova therein. However, these 

 signs should call forth the greatest vigilance on the 

 part of the pisciculturist, who should attentively note 

 what goes on, and have all ready to secure his harvest 

 of ova on the arrival of the females. 



When this occurs, which may be easily discerned 

 by the distended forms and duller colours of the hens, 

 the nets must be got out, the waders donned, and the 



