Trout Breeding. 43 



Watch the carpenter at every point in the making of 

 troughs, and especially in the selection of the planks. 

 If a bottom plank has a bit of sap-wood on the corner 

 of one edge, have it put on the downward side, where 

 it does not come in contact with water. If a side plank 

 has a strip of sap-wood, have him put that edge on 

 top, above water,' for such parts are the first to decay. 

 The hearts of the tree are next in order to rot, and if 

 there is a heart-streak in a plank have it on the out- 

 side. 



See that the edges of the bottom planks are not only . 

 all of a width, but that they are absolutely straight 

 and the edges perfectly square. If the planks are 

 i-| inches thick use twenty-penny nails, wire-nails, and 

 these are 4^^ inches long. Have him put the nails 

 2| inches apart, and not in a straight row, but alter- 

 nately up and down in order to prevent splitting the 

 planks. 



These things may seem unimportant details, but 

 they are worth attending to if one cares to have the 

 troughs not only water-tight but also to last as many 

 years as possible. 



It has been my custom to take a pair of compasses 

 and mark on the lower end of each trough the year in 

 which it was made. On the first trough in the frontis- 

 piece may be seen the figures 1888, so made. This 

 enables one to know just how long that trough has 

 lived, and to judge of the defects of certain planks. It 

 is a record that may be wished for in later years. 



The question of painting or tarring the outside of 

 troughs may be a debatable one. The troughs look 

 better for it, but I incline to think that it retains the 

 moisture in the wood, and so helps to rot it. But, 

 above all, have the troughs tight. 



