2IO TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



large trout do not by any means destroy all the smaller ones; for in one of 

 our lakes in an hour and one-half one afternoon one of our number caught 

 seventy trout averaging about five ounces in weight, and it is an unusually 

 bad day that one in the same length of time cannot catch thirty or forty. 



It is a noticeable fact that our different ponds contain trout of very 

 variable maximum size. In one of our ponds, about a mile in length, no 

 one of our party last year took a trout weighing over eight ounces; in a 

 second pond, only twelve minutes walk from this, several were taken that 

 weighed about twelve ounces, and one that weighed over a pound; in a 

 third pond, about two miles off, several were taken varying from three- 

 quarters of a pound to one pound, and one of twenty ounces. The size of 

 these lakes does not differ noticeabfy ; the water is of a.bout the same temper- 

 ature ; and it is difficult to attribute this difference in size of the fish to any- 

 thing else than the character and amount of food. 



In conclusion, we would urge upon those interested in fish culture the 

 effort to increase the amount of food provided for trout rather than their 

 artificial cultivation in hatcheries, and placing large numbers of small fry 

 in the waters which are deficient in food supply. 



At many trout stations a mush made of mill middlings mixed with liver 

 has been found very acceptable for rainbow trout. Another very useful 

 combination is known as Lane's food. It is prepared from the following 

 recipe of the late George F. Lane, of Silver Lake, Mass. : Animal meal, 2 

 quarts; salt, 1^ pounds; corn meal, 8 quarts; mill middlings, 16 quarts; 

 water brought to the boiling point, 24 quarts. These ingredients are 

 thoroughly mixed and cooked in a large iron boiler and the compound is 

 afterwards forced through a perforated cylinder in the shape of round, 

 vermicelli-like strings, which are allowed to dry before feeding time. The 

 strings are broken up into lengths of two and one-half to three inches and 

 they are thrown to the trout in the ponds. 



Haddock Roe. 



This is to be obtained from salt fish dealers in Boston and Gloucester, 

 Mass. Supplies were purchased from the John R. Neal Co., T wharf, Boston, 

 for several stations, and answered a very useful purpose as long as they 



