TAKING THE EGGS. 121 



A raw, chilly November day, when the air feels disa- 

 greeable, is the worst kind of weather for spawning, and 

 in some of these days they will hardly come up at all. 



An increased current and volume of water have an 

 effect upon the spawning fish similar to a rain, per- 

 haps from the same cause, namely, increase of friction 

 in the water. 



At any rate, the trout come up better when the 

 stream rises. This instinct the breeder can often turn 

 to his own convenience. For instance, if he must be 

 absent a day, he can keep the spawners back by turning 

 off the water as far as is safe ; or if he wants to hasten 

 the spawning on any particular day, he can do so 

 by turning on a powerful current. 



The afternoon especially, whether rainy or sunny, I 

 have always found to be the best part of the day for 

 taking spawn. 



To insure ripe eggs, I think once a day is quite 

 often enough to manipulate the fish. 



SPAWNING IN THE POND. 



In the course of a few weeks the daily disturbing 

 of the trout on their nests will often, and I think 

 usually, drive them farther down stream, and induce 

 them to spawn in the pond. This of course results in 

 the loss of the eggs, and must not be allowed. The best 

 way to discourage it is, to throw in a shovelful of mud or 

 earth, wherever you discover them making their nests. 



At my own ponds I have two sets of spawning 

 races, one below the other. I use the upper one 

 only, to begin with, and when the trout abandon this, 



