GROWING THE LARGE TROUT. 253 



safeguards there is one better than all, and that is to 

 have your dwelling-house or your keeper's house either 

 over or close to the ponds. Then with a dog that will 

 give the alarm at the approach of danger you may 

 consider your trout as near safe as the nature of the 

 case permits. 



Section IV. — Adult Trout. — How to grow 

 Trout to a very large Size, and rapidly. 



Trout show their keeping as well as any other crea- 

 ture, and more than most. I have seen a trout that 

 was reasonably believed to be but two years old that 

 weighed a pound, and I have seen one of the same 

 age that barely turned the scales at half an ounce. 

 The larger one had been in a warm stream which 

 swarmed with blood-suckers, than which there is no 

 more growing food in the world for trout. The other 

 happened to be confined in a small enclosure of very 

 cold water, almost destitute of food. These instances 

 show what a difference unlike conditions will make 

 in the growth of a trout. You can grow them at an 

 almost incredible rate, or you can dwarf them to an 

 almost incredible degree. 



If you want to dwarf trout, keep them in cold sun- 

 less water, in close confinement, and with little food, 

 and you will do it. 



If you want to grow them fast and large, observe the 

 following directions : — 



i. Give them plenty of water. Of two similar lots 

 of trout confined in the same amount of space and 

 kept on the same amount of food, those which have 

 the largest supply of water will grow the best. 



