274 AMERICAN FISH CULTURE. 



killies and other harmless species, to increase the amount 

 of food. This pond he will keep as a preserve for angling. 



The hatching-house and ponds are in accordance with 

 plans furnished by the writer; the former having been 

 enlarged and improved in some of its details by the owner. 



Mr. Christie commenced his ponds in the summer of 

 1867 ; not being completed in time, he erected a temporary 

 hatching-house last fall, and succeeded, with the assistance 

 of the writer, beyond his anticipations ; having no place for 

 his young fish, he sold them in the neighborhood, and 

 supplied persons at a distance with eggs. Out of eight 

 thousand sold to Mr. Comfort, on the Norristown railroad, 

 only seven or eight imperfect eggs were found on delivery. 

 He has a goodly supply at present, and by the spawning- 

 season, has a fair prospect of increasing his number of brood- 

 trout to three thousand. He has offers from persons in 

 his neighborhood, who have facility for rearing trout, but 

 none for hatching them, to take his surplus fry and grow 

 them for market, each party to participate in the profits. 

 His address is P. H. Christie, Clove, Dutchess county, 

 New York. 



IX. 



CULTIVATION OF FUR-BEARING ANIMALS. 



Since fish culture has been introduced in this country, 

 many persons have become convinced that the high price 

 which the finer furs command, will justify the domestica- 

 tion of animals from which they are taken. A fine mink 

 skin, for instance, will bring from six to ten dollars when 

 sold to the furrier. As this newer branch of industry is 

 attracting some attention, I may appropriately give the 

 following from a Montreal paper. 



