REARING YOUNG TROUT 171 



than at any other period in the year; con- 

 sequently, as soon as they have begun to 

 recover, they should be given all the food 

 they will eat in order to assist and foster 

 the growth. This is perhaps the most impor- 

 tant advice that can be given with respect to 

 feeding. Delay in feeding regularly at other 

 times is not as serious as a failure to furnish 

 them a full and regular supply during the two 

 or three months just mentioned. 



After the lapse of two or three months, if the 

 hatchery is one in which the main object is the 

 propagation of the fry and fingerlings for 

 breeding or distribution and not for the market, 

 it would be well to decrease slightly the amount 

 of food given daily, as a growth beyond the 

 normal for their age is likely sometimes to 

 cause a deterioration in the quality of the eggs. 

 In my experience the proportion of "ringers" 

 in eggs is frequently increased where fish are 

 over-fed to increase their size. 



If, however, the propagation of fry and 

 fingerlings for stocking purposes is secondary 

 to the rearing of fish for market, then the food 

 question assumes another aspect. Naturally 



