22 Conservation Department 



for its fine trout fishing. The main spring issues from a crevice 

 between limestone strata and at this point the water shows the 

 following analysis as given in Table 5 : 



Oxygen — 0.1 p. p.m. 



C0 2 — 20.5 p.p.m. 



Just before the spring run enters North brook (Price brook) 

 the analysis shows : 



Oxygen — 3.95 p.p.m. 



C0 2 — 13 p.p.m. 



Thus the spring water in passing from source to mouth over a 

 gravel bottom with frequent riffles, absorbed 3.8 p.p.m. of oxygen 

 and lost about 7 p.p.m. of carbon dioxide. 



Brook trout commonly occur in the lower half of this run but 

 rarely have they been observed much farther upstream. Experi- 

 mental data indicate that they will live apparently without dis- 

 comfort in water showing a temperature of 10° C. (50° Fahr.), 

 oxygen content between 2.5 and 3 p.p.m., and carbon dioxide 

 around 15 p.p.m. The run starts as an unsuitable planting place 

 but becomes suitable at a point somewhat more than half way to 

 its mouth. Trout should never be planted in the pools immedi- 

 ately below the spring nor in any part of the upper one-half of the 

 run. 



It is well to emphasize at this point the necessity of determining 

 the suitability of the water in every spring run before stocking, 

 for it may not always be possible for the trout to work down into 

 a region where gaseous conditions are safe before asphyxiation 

 takes place. While it is not always possible to have a chemical 

 analysis made, any fisherman may make a simple test by placing 

 in the water to be tested, a wire basket containing a few healthy 

 fingerling trout and observing their behavior. Distress is indi- 

 cated by a marked increase in respiration or a loss of equilibrium. 

 If trout turn over on their backs within a reasonable time — say 10 

 minutes — it would be a pretty certain indication that the water is 

 bad. 



In order to show how variable in oxygen and carbon dioxide 

 content springs and spring runs may be, the data in the following 

 table has been brought together from analyses made by Mr. 

 Wagner. 



