GROWING THE LARGE TROUT. 235 



less indifferent to it. As the spawning season ap- 

 proaches, the trout care less and less for food, and just 

 at their spawning time, and a week or two previous, 

 they avoid it, and go without eating entirely. When 

 their spawning is over they eat again, and are quite 

 ravenous on warm days, and where the temperature of 

 the water does not alter much they feed well all winter ; 

 but in brooks or ponds where the water cools with the 

 season their appetite falls off, and when the water 

 drops to 36, or less, they either scarcely notice the 

 food or take it very languidly. At this degree of cold 

 they are in a torpid condition, and there is about as 

 much difference between their spring and elasticity at 

 this time and in the summer, as there is between the 

 movements of a mud-turtle and a Scotch terrier after 

 rats. On mild days in winter when the sun warms the 

 water, or after a warm rain, they will wake up from 

 their lethargy and eat as they do in summer. These 

 are the times when they will indulge their cannibal 

 instincts if they are not fed, and you should be prompt 

 on such days to anticipate their unusual appetite with 

 proper food. 



Trout feed differently at different times in the day. 

 In the winter the favorable time is the warmest part 

 of the day. In summer they take their food best 

 about sundown ; they are very lively then both in the 

 spring and summer, and will leap out of the water and 

 lash the surface with their tails in a way that is very 

 exhilarating to see. 



When the keeper approaches to feed them, they will 

 come towards him, or will collect in their accustomed 



