59 



much as possible. At this stage of their growth many 

 cuiious deformities appear, more interesting perhaps to 

 the physiologist than to Trout culturist. Some of the 

 fry will have two heads, and some will be united after 

 the manner of the Siamese Twins. A very common de- 

 formity is a crook or bend in the Trout, giving it a semi- 

 circular form, so that when it attemps to swim it can 

 only progress in small circles. All the deformed soon 

 die, and may as well be removed from the trough at 

 once. They live as long as the sac supplies them with 

 food ; when the sac is exhausted they cannot swim about 

 to get food, and die of starvation. 



This instinct of hiding will make the young fry very 

 uneasy if they are placed in a trough without gravel. 

 They will keep continually in motion, or will crowd upon 

 one another in masses each trying to work his way out of 

 sight under the others. They must now be watched, 

 and carefully moved from time to time if there is danger 

 of their smothering. 



NuESEET. — The most critical period in the life of a 

 Trout commences when the umbilical sac is absorbed. 

 More, perhaps die from the time they begin to feed until 

 they are six months old, than at any other time. In 

 consequence many different plans for nurseries have 

 been suggested and used. The fry requiie a largely 

 increased supply of water, but where oaly a mod- 

 erate number is to be raised, in place of erect- 

 ing other and wider troue;hri or boxes for nurseries, 

 the better plan is to put only a few eggs, say five 

 hundred, into each square or nest of the hatching 

 trough. The square is then large enough with the 

 water raised to keep the Trout well for a month or 

 two after they commence feeding, when they may be 

 transferred into the first or upper pond. This plan 



