GROWING THE LARGE TROUT. 237 



condition through the year, and that they would do 

 very well on half that allowance. I have also ob- 

 served that with two-year-olds and three-year-olds five 

 pounds of meat food is an equivalent for one pound 

 of trout growth. 



SECTION III. How TO SECURE THE LARGE TROUT 



AGAINST LOSS. 



There is no domesticated creature in the world that 

 can be kept with so little loss as large trout, if care- 

 fully protected. Indeed, the loss is almost nothing. 

 The large trout keep healthy and vigorous at all sea- 

 sons, and very rarely die if properly cared for ; though 

 if they are carelessly exposed they will waste away like 

 dew before the sun. If you observe the following di- 

 rections, many of which are only repetitions of what has 

 been previously said, I think your trout will be safe : 



1. Guard against freshets. 



2. Avoid overstocking. 



3. Guard against heated water. 



4. Handle carefully. 



5. Keep the trout well sorted. 



6. Never let the water get foul. 



7. Protect from natural enemies. 



8. Protect from poachers. 



i. Guard against freshets. So much has been said 

 under this head in the chapter on suitable water, that 

 we will merely refer the reader to that chapter, saying, 

 en passant, that the danger from this source cannot be 

 overestimated, and that the losses, when they do oc- 

 cur, are usually overwhelming. 



