25 



structed that the top of the gravel at the lower end will be 

 on a level with the water in the pond at its lowest stage ; 

 and the dams are constructed in such a manner that the wa- 

 ter may be raised at will from twelve to eighteen inches in 

 the pond and lower end of race. The races are the spawn- 

 ing ground for the trout, in each of the ponds, and every 

 trout will run into them during the spawning season, to de- 

 posit their ova — at which time the eggs may be procured by 

 artificial means, by dropping the screens and taking the fish 

 in a scoop-net. During this season the race should be cov- 

 ered with boards, and all intruders kept away, as they are 

 very shy at this time, although quite tame in the ponds. In 

 like manner races may be built at the lower ends of the ponds 

 by taking the water out along the side of the bank. The 

 trout will find their way down as well as up. 



WATER. 



The most important thing to be looked to in trout-growing 

 is the amount, purity and temperature of the water. The 

 volume of water should be ample, entirely free from all sed- 

 iment and aU surface water, and at leastforty degrees Fahr- 

 enheit — still better at forty-eight degrees — the temperature 

 of the water in the far-famed Caledonia Springs, where the 

 trout naturally increase and grow faster than in any other 

 place known in the world. This stream, only one mile in 

 length, is fished constantly from the first of April to the first 

 of September, furnishing thousands of pounds, annually, 

 without any apparent diminution, which can only be accounted 

 for by taking into consideration the exceeding purity as well 

 as the high temperature of thewater, — the water in the cold- 

 est day of winter being forty-eight degrees in the spring, 

 and forty-seven degrees in the spawning beds, and forty-two 

 degrees generally, in the creek. The small ponds can be 

 supplied by a spring- that will fill a two-inch pipe, and so on 

 in proportion to volume, up to the largest name^ ponds, 

 which should, at least, fill a forty inch pipe. This will keep 



