CONCLUDING CHAPTER. 263 



creatures inspire at every stage of their growth. There 

 is no time when they are not beautiful and intensely 

 interesting, and it is not exaggerating to say that at 

 some particular periods, as, for instance, the spawn- 

 ing season, the first appearance of the embryo in 

 the egg, and the hatching of the egg, afford to a 

 lover of nature a most pleasurable excitement, which 

 would seem to be satisfying even to those who think 

 that it takes a good deal of excitement to satisfy 

 them. 



On the whole, I should say that the work of a trout 

 farm is attended with considerable care, and at first 

 with some anxiety, but also with a corresponding in- 

 terest and enjoyment, and not without a very consider- 

 able degree of pleasurable excitement at times. 



THE PECUNIARY ASPECT OF TROUT CULTURE. 



One of the chief inquiries at the present time in re- 

 gard to trout culture is whether it can be made a prof- 

 itable business. In reply to this inquiry I have no 

 hesitation in saying that I think trout breeding can be 

 made profitable anywhere in the settled portions of 

 this country where there is plenty of suitable water ; 

 but to be very profitable it must be on a large scale. 

 It will not pay great profits to raise a thousand trout 

 a year, but a handsome income will be made from 

 raising ten thousand a year. 



I find that the cost of growing trout is very small 

 indeed, and that the returns are very large indeed. 



It costs no more to keep a thousand trout each, of 

 the three different sizes, springlings, yearlings, and 



