138 How to obtain tt. 
heard of water being found in a morning absolutely stopped by 
the frost. Such a thing was never allowed to happen here. I do 
not mean to say that a tap has never been accidentally stopped— 
far from it; but such an occurrence was extremely rare, and the 
cause mostly unusual. Accidents have, however, happened, and 
for the benefit of others I will mention some of them. 
All the hatching boxes are supplied with water by means of 
taps, as well as the yearling boxes in the yearling house. They are 
most easily regulated, and are safer as sources of water supply 
than any other apparatus I have had brought under my notice, 
but they are not infallible. On one occasion I remember a tap 
suddenly ceased to work, and nothing would induce the water to 
resume its course through it. Now all the taps are so arranged 
that in less than half a minute they can be detached by turning 
a screw, and in as short a time replaced, so that no time had to 
be lost in examining the one in question. In it was found a frog! 
How it got there no one could ever tell. Like the one said to 
have been found in the middle of a solid rock, the manner in 
which it came there was a mystery which none could solve. The 
length of time it had been embedded was a much simpler question, 
for it must have been discovered the moment it succeeded in 
getting into position. A leaf has twice accidentally got into a tap 
and stopped it, but only for a moment, and on one occasion, 
while the screen was out for a few minutes, a truant trout of four 
and a half inches came down the spout, but unfortunately did not 
succeed in stopping the tap, for it passed right through it, and was 
only discovered, after lapse of many days, by the serious 
diminution in the number in a box of Alpine char. The trout (a 
wild fish) had the usual disposition to hide himself, and the box 
being against the wall of the hatchery, could only be examined 
from one side, and owing to this, he had remained unobserved 
until the mischief was done. When found he was simply gorged 
with char. 
These occurrences only show what great care is required in 
a hatchery, and point to the necessity for having everything 
properly arranged in thorough working order, and being con- 
tinually watchful to see that they are kept so. Without this care 
success is impossible. Having water entirely under control means 
