82 TROUT CULTURE. 



nailing a wooden handle on to a board and putting it 

 on the bottom, then lifting it and placing it a few 

 inches further down the stream ; the board backs up 

 the water and creates a scour when lifted, which clears 

 off mud with great rapidity. 



In many streams diatoms, a sort of alga, of an olive 

 hue, growing by "self fission," are a great curse to the 

 fish breeder, as they cover everything with a disgusting 

 film, clog screens, and necessitate constant care and 

 attention, or some very awkward consequences may 

 follow, such as choking of screens or loss of fishes. 

 By the use of clay, however, this is easily obviated, as 

 the clay, acting like a soap, breaks up the masses of 

 alga and enables them to float down stream, and pass 

 the screens without clogging ; nor does it appear in any 

 way to injure the young fishes. Clay, therefore, is one 

 of the best of friends to a trout breeder in such a water. 



By the use of sluices and a side-cut for waste as 

 described above, much may be done in one pond or 

 stream without in any way disturbing or fouling those 

 below ; the current is easily under control, and every- 

 thing may be done decently and in order, to the 

 satisfaction and benefit alike of the fish breeder and 

 his charges ; the great thing being to look ahead 

 and meet evils half-way. If a thing has to be done 

 it should be done thoroughly and at once, but 

 with discretion and judgment, after due and mature 

 consideration. 



Had the Cray been only what nature made it, a 

 clear, bright rippling trout-stream, ere this it would 

 have been one of those ideal Edens for the fly-fisher 

 of which we often read, but which it is seldom our 

 good fortune to see. 



