Sept. 3§. 1897.] 
FOREST AISTD STREAM. 
281 
John Price Wetherill, South Bethlehem; H. A. Chase, 
Philadelphia; Dr. Monroe, Chester, and Attorney-General 
McCormick. To Draft Laws, James A. Dale, York; John 
A. Smith, Eenovo; Wm. E. Meehan and M. G. Sellers, 
Philadelphia, and L. L. Roney, AUentown. 
WILD TROUT SPAWN, METHODS OF 
COLLECTION AND UTILITY. 
A paper read by Commissioner J. W. Titcomb, of Termont, before 
ttie American Fisheries Society. 
The method of securing an ample supply of wild brooK 
trout spawn is so easy in localities where the parent fish 
abound, and S3 little has been said about this feature of trout 
culture, that I make bold to-give my experience in this work. 
Perhaps I should apologize for describing in an article be- 
fore this Society a method of fishing of ancient origin which 
has for many years been appUed by fishculturists to the cap- 
ture of trout, f ontinalis and anadromous fishes, but I have never 
seen this method written up in detail as modified for tlie cap- 
tme of trout, and it seems a necessary part of a chapter on 
trout culture und-r the title on which I have written. 1 have 
reft rence to the first method I shall describe for the capture 
of the parent fish. 
It is well known to all fishculturists that trout vary in 
their habits of spawning, or, rather, in their selection of 
spawning grounds. While brook trout in brooks almost in- 
variably ascend to some point beyond their natural abode, 
or into some spring brook tributary to the main stream, it is 
not always the case that brook trout in lakes and ponds seek 
the tributary streams for their spawning grounds. It has 
been my experience that brook trout living in ponds qmte as 
frequently spawn in them as in some tributary stream, even 
if the latter apparently afiords good spawning grounds. In 
Vermont the earliest run of trout begin to spawn about the 
middle of September, although they have begun to seek 
suitable spawning beds at least a month earlier. It is, there- 
fore, necessary for the flshculturist to guard agaiost the 
ascent of the fish long before he is ready to trap them if he 
is looking for stream spawners. This is accomplished by the 
use of a weir stretched across the stream where the trap is to 
be located, as early as the middle of August. As this weir 
can be used as the "upper side of the proposed trap later in the 
season, it is desirable to construct it with that object in view. 
Location— The location of a trap should be made at a 
point where it is least Ukely to be inundated or washed out 
by freshets, which would allow the escape of many fish 
when they are most likely to be running in greatest numbers. 
A point on the stream near its mouth is advised, or at some 
place below any possible spawning bed, but not near enough 
to the outlet to be affected by backwater from the pond, "it 
is desirable to have a slight fall of water at the entrance to 
the trap. In order to avoid washouts, the selection of a 
point where the channel is broad is preferable. The slats of 
the weir occupying about foor-fifths of the natural water- 
way will act as a barrier to raise the water above its natural 
level, more or less. 
Constri/dion.— The trap is a V-shaped inclosure described 
by the mathematical term, "re entering polygon," made of 
slats varying in dimensions with the size of the stream and 
the force of the current. I used slats lin, square, planed on 
two sides, driven into the bed of the brook vertically, about 
iin. apart, and nailed to horizontal timbers or hewn logs. 
This framework of horizontal timbers consists of one course 
laid at water level and a parallel course at the extreme 
height of the weir. The general idea of such a trap is the 
same as the pound net, there being an opening of 4 or oin. 
in the angle of the V. A gate can be arranged in the en- 
trance with a lever reaching to sonae point obscured from 
the view of the entrapped fish, which can be lowered when- 
ever the trap is approached for inspection. This method of 
trapping trout is not new, but requires more precautions 
than for the capture of other fish less active and gamy, and 
a few words of caution to the inexperienced may be desir- 
able. Build your trap to resist the greatest freshet the stream 
is liable to develop. The run of trout at such times will be 
greatest. Be careful to get a foundation that will not be 
undermined by the constant washing of the current between 
the slats. It is usually best to entirely surround the sides of 
a trap with slats rather than to depend upon the natural em- 
bankments. It is not necessary to use narrow slats for the 
sides of the trap, as no water passes through them, and the 
only obj'^ct is to secure an inclosure from which fish can be 
easily dipped out. For a stream 6ft. wide I should build an 
inclosure about 6ft. square^ the V extending into the inclos- 
ure about 3ft. 
In many localities it will be found possible to dig side 
ditches above the trap and inclosures, at right angles with 
the stream, in order to convey surplus water away from the 
trap, and lessen the danger of washout or inundation. The 
bottom of sucn ditches should be considerably above low 
water mark to carry off surplus high water. 
A convenient place for the pens is just above the trap, so 
that the trout can be dipped from the latter into the former. 
Thej' are constructed of the same material of which the trap 
is made, the upper side of the trap inclosure being used as 
the lower side or end of a series of pens. These should be 
made in shape and size to suit the location and number of 
fish expected to be captured, and the same precautions should 
be taken with them as with the trap to guard against wash- 
outs. In many instances, the bed of the brook is hard gra- 
vel and stones of large size, preventing the driving of the 
slats into it. In such cases it is desirable to make an apron 
at the base of the slat-work, upon which the water will fall 
as it passes through them, and prevent washing out of holes 
underneath the slats. This apron can be made of boards as 
an artificial bottom to the trap or pens, but a cheaper and 
quite as serviceable method is to place evergreen boughs or 
green underbrush at the base of the slat-work, covering the 
same with crushed stone or small stones from the bed of the 
brook, and then with coarse gravel. This feature of con- 
struction is very important. If there is a hole in the trap or 
pens large enough for trout to escape, they will surely do so. 
In fact, they will dig out under the slat-work if not properly 
guarded against. It is well to have planks extending over 
the trap and pens, on which one can conveniently stand to 
dip out the fish. Adjacent to the trap and pens, a rough 
board shanty can be constructed, or a tent can be tempora- 
rily used. There will be many stormy and cold days, how- 
ever, and I advise having a shanty with facilities for heating 
it, and with a bunk where the attendant can skep. Add to 
this equipment a reflecting lantern. Field stations of this 
description are usually some distance from habitation, and 
the ordinary comforts of camp life should be available to in- 
sure good work of the spawn taker. 
I have described one of the field stations operated by the 
U. S. Fish Commission in Vermont. The cost of such a sta- 
tion equipped for work will vary from $30 to $100, accord- 
ing to facihties for obtaining materials of construction, etc. 
At this station the first run of trout occurred on Sunday, 
Aug. 23, when 1,650 trout ascended the brook durirg a rain- 
storm. Few trout were caught after this date until Sunday. 
Sept, 6, when about 1,000 more were taken. On Sept. il 
my records show that 3,335 trout had thus been taken. The 
fish continued to run in schools every rainy day, with a few 
stragglers every day until the end of the month. Oct. 15 
some of the slats to the trap were removed after 7,138 trout 
had been captured. There is no other tributary to the pond 
where these trout could run, except in the wet season. 
In the latter part of September it was discovered 
that a large number of trout were ascending a "dry 
brook," so called, in large numbers. At the request of the 
owners of the pond, these trout were not disturbed, .although 
it is doubtful whether their spawn would ever amount to 
anything deposited in such a stream. The discovery was 
occasioned by the fact that the trout had stopped runnirg in 
the stream in which the trap was located, the inference being 
that they had learned of their danger and sought new 
spawning grounds. Whether such is the actual case, cannot 
be decided until after another season's work. The pond 
from which these trout ascended into the trap is an ordinary 
mill-pond of about forty acres, used to float logs into a mill, 
and with no screen at its outlet. The trout average about 
five to the pound, and the females of this size yield an aver- 
age of 560 eggs. About 1,000,000 eggs were taken here, a 
part of which were eyed in a tent supplied with water from 
an adjacent spring, a part being transported to the St Johns- 
bury station as soon as stripped. In connection with a col- 
lectiog station distant from the hatchery, it is advisable to 
have a few troughs set up for eyeing the eggs before trans- 
portation, if suitable water can be obtained for the purpose. 
The natural brook water is ordinarily of low temperature, 
and too full of sediment to warrant using it for such tempo- 
rary work. If an adjacent spring is available, troughs 
can be set up in a tent or shanty, and the eggs thus eyed 
in from thirty to forty days before the most severe win- 
ter weather sets in. For this work I use deep troughs, 
and stack the travs ten deep. The first stripping of 
eggs occurred Sept. 26, when 66,000 were taken. The 
second and largest stripping occurred Oct. 7, when 
nearly 500,000 eggs were taken, and the trout had all been 
stripped and liberated on Nov. 7. During the season only 
eighteen trout died. The cost of operating this stating dur- 
ing the season, including team hire and transportation of eggs 
to St. Johusbury station, was $256 83, exclusive of services 
of one regular station employee two months. This cost in- 
cluded the cost of construction of trap and shanty, some of 
which would not enter into the expense of another season. 
For this privilege of taking trout hboral returns are made to 
the waters in fry. 
Lake and Pond Spawners — The method of taking trout 
from spawning beds in ponds difEers materially from the 
method just described. The following is a description of a 
field station and methods of operation where the trout spawn 
in the lake : 
One of the first important features is to have suitable 
retaining pens in the lake, where the trout will be undis- 
turbed and secure from poachers. I am describing a station 
at a lake of 1,500 acres area, subject to high winds and rough 
water. 
The first year that collections were made at this station a 
breakwater was constructed of lumber and stones as a par- 
tial shelter to the retaining crates, the latter being anchored 
in shallow water and weighted to the bottom so that they 
could be approached by a walk from the shore, where a small 
tent had been erected in which to strip fish. The crates were 
always a source of annoyance for fear they would be robbed 
or broken up by high winds. The fishing was conducted in 
calm weather, day and night, and the stripping in stormy 
weather. Lake or pond spawners usually deposit their spawn 
later in the season than the brook spawners, and the weather 
is inclement for outdoor work, such as stripping trout. As a 
result, the percentage of eggs eyed at this station was not 
what it should have been, The following season a boat house 
was constructed with retaining pens within it, and of sufli- 
cient size to give ample room for spawn taking operations. 
In this house a stove was set up, and thus the work of taking 
spawn could proceed without discomfoit during the most 
severe weather of November and December. Of the eggs 
• taken at this station last season, 97 per cent, were successfully 
eyed. 
The feature about the boat house to be considered in con- 
nection with the work, aside from the comfort of the em- 
ployees, is the method of building retaining space J or the 
brood fish. Two piers were constructed about 6ft. wide by 
24ft long, and laid parallel to each other 8ft. apart. The 
material for the piers consisted of water -soaked 
logs taken from the lake, with the addition of a 
few trees cut near by. The logs were piled crib fashion, 
fastened with drift bolts and filled with large stones. 
The two piers were tied together at each end by stiingers of 
logs, and constituted the foundation upon which the boat 
house was built. The space between the two piers, or the 
inlet to the boat house, was rccupied by four crates, each 
6ft. long by 4ft. wide by 4ft. deep. The log piers are not at 
all water-tight, only large stones being used to sink them, 
and with the 8ft. opening at the sea end of the boat house, 
furnish ample opportunity for aeration of the water in the 
most calm periods. To guard against heaving by ice, which 
freezes 2ft. thick on the lake, the outside of the cob piers 
was covered with planks fastened vertically, but sloping out 
in the form of a battered wall, so that the ice cannot get a 
hold on the piers sufficiently to move them. The planking 
should not extend but a few inches below low water level, or 
it might interfere with the aeration of water in the crates. 
The trout were thus free from poachers, and also from 
the prying eyes of cm-ious people. It may be remarked 
here that wild trout should not be disturbed in confinement 
any more than is absolutely necessary. Between 400 and 500 
fish were retained at a time, one crate always being kept 
empty for use in transferring unripe fish. 
ifetJiods of Capture — The implements used in the capture 
of lake spawners consist of spacious but easy-running boats, 
tooth-nets, dip-nets and jack-lights. I erroneously designate 
as "tooth" nets, gill-nets of a mesh too small to gill the fish. 
The above described station was equipped with one ench 
ICOft. and 200ft. gill nets of Ifin. mesh (|in. knot to knot) 
and 6ft. deep, colored blue. Fishing was conducted day and 
night, or when the weather was favorable, lee shores being 
selected if the wind blew, it being necessary to have the 
water calm enough so that the fish could be seen upon their 
beds. The dip-nets resemble large landing nets, the hoop or 
net frame being 15 to aOin. in diameter, made of iin. gaspipe, 
and the net being 3ft. deep, of as coarse a mesh as the size of 
fish to be dipped will permit without gilling them. It should 
be of rather fiue thread and barked or colored blue. The 
latter color is best for work at night. After a fisherman has 
had experience with dip-nets, he_will have his own ideas 
about the style of net, dimensions, etc. ; but the general de- 
scription given above will hold .good with all. The technical 
description of a dip-net for ordering from the manufactur- 
ers is as follows: "52 meshes round, 28in. long, Ifin. mesh. 
16-6 cable, barked, with twine strung through the top 5ft, long." 
I have tried several forms of dip-net frames, and finally 
settled upon the iin. gaspipe as the best for lightness, strength 
and durability combined with cheapness. A better, but more 
expensive net frame, can be made by the same method that 
pitchforks are made, only continuing the process by drawing 
the tines of the fork around until they complete the arc of a 
circle. This form of net frame has the advantage of being 
strong, light and more slender than the gaspipe for rapid 
work under the water. The handles of the dip-nets should 
be of light and strong material, and I have found nothing 
equal to the bamboo for them, using 8 or 10ft. from the butts 
of fishing poles. 
The jacklights are an important feature of this work, the 
larger part of which is done at night. The one I use is a 
gallon can fastened to a ga««pipe standard so that it can be 
raised or lowered, also revolved in the arc of a quarter circle. 
To this can is attached a supply pipe to conduct kerosene 
oil from the can to a perforated burner suspended over the 
water. This conductor has a globe valve in it to regulate 
the supply of oil. The conductor is Jin. gaspipe about I2in. 
long. The burner is +in. gaspipe 6in. long, with cap at the 
end. The perforations in the burner are gVin. in diameter, 
and should not exceed twenty in number. The burner is 
made of larger pipe than the conductor to it, as a conveni- 
ence in winding a.sbestos wicking, which is looselv wound 
upon it and fastened with fine wire. Cotton batting or 
bagging can be used for this purpose, but is not as good. 
The burner when wound with asbestos resembles in shape a 
bobbin of cotton. A shade is necessary to protect the fish- 
ermen from the heat and glare of the light, and for conven- 
ience should be detachable. Galvanized sheet- iron is 
good for this purpose. For night fishing the Hght is 
suspended over the bow of the boat, the standard being 
screwed into a cast-iron foot, which latter is attached 
to the boat by means of a lag screw. The same method 
of fishing is employed whether by day or night, the jaok- 
light being the only additional feature at night. The 
gill-net is then thrown around the spawning bed, the fishing 
boat is run inside, and a man with a dip net stands in the 
bow ready to dip the fish. He directs the guidance of the 
boat, which is propelled by one oarsman. The fish are easily 
seen on their beds in from 1 to oft. of water, and remain un- 
distm-bed until the dip-net approaches them. If they lie 
facing the net, they can be easily picked up. Sometimes a 
pair can be taken together. When several are on the same 
bed, those that are frightened away invariably start directly 
for deep water. In their sudden plunge they run against 
the gill-net, are caught by their jaws, and in their struggles 
wind up in the net. The cork floats of the net are painted 
white to facilitate seeing them at this stage, and the fish 
thus caught is easily taken by holding the dip-net under it 
and then shaking out the gill-net. The sport is exciting, 
and fishermen forget the time of night, even if the ther- 
mometer regibters far below freezing point. This method of 
fishine with dip-nets was first employed in taking the late 
trout {S. namaycush), and has been in vogue in New Hamp- 
shire for several years, the use of the gill-net not being re- 
quired. It required much urging and practical illustration 
before the spawn-takers would believe that brook trout 
could be dipped up in the same manner. As fast as dipped 
up, the fish are put into tanks of water and kept in the boat 
until forty or fifty trout are captured. 
Common sugar barrels will do for tanks. Seines can be 
used to advantage if the spawning grounds are smooth 
enough; but the majority of them are not. It has been my 
expeiience that the dipping process is less expensive than 
seining even on smooth grounds. The fish run best the first 
part of the night, and night fishing is conducted from dark 
until midnight. The spawning season of brook trout varies 
the same as it does with those spawning in streams, and is 
apparently affected by the height of the water. The first 
fish captured in the lake last season were taken Oct. 29, 1896. 
The last ones were taken Dec. 2, after which time the lake 
was frozen over. The trout could be seen at work on the 
beds long after the ice closed over the lake, and, in fact, 
until after Jan. 1, 1897. 
The total number of trout taken with dip-nets was 
1,457; average weight of each fish, a little over a pound. 
The number of males exceeded the number of females 
in the proportion of two to one. This has been the ex- 
perience in the work of three seasons. The first strip- 
ping occurred Nov. 6, and the last Dec. 11. Total num- 
of females stripped, 363; total take of eggs, about 
500,000. The eggs were eyed in a shanty fed by 
springs near the lake, three troughs of trays in stacks being 
used for the purpose. As a matter of information, twenty- 
nine female trout, stripped of spawn at this field station 
Nov. 26, 1896, were measured and weighed and the number 
of eggs yielded by each recorded. The girth, as given in 
the lollowing table, was taken before the trout were stripped 
and with a scale which might not be regarded as entirely 
accurate, but approximately so. Some of these trout had 
apparently dropped part of their eggs before being capim-ed- 
Length 
Girth 
Weight 
No of 
in inches. 
in inches. 
lbs. 
OZ3. 
Eggs, 
13 
7 
1 
i,3a4 
18 
6 
2,665 
10 
iU 
11^ 
17 
8 
615 
11 
2 
2,603 
11 
1 
2,358 
4 
3 
ISO 
7M 
7 
11)^ 
l,!il3 
10 
8^0 
6)4 
8 
410 
6 
8 
615 
im 
» 
308 
12 
820 
9 
1 
B23 
11 
6 
8 
616 
13 
m 
11^ 
1,025 
2,665 
17 
10 
2 
13 
923 
UK 
830 
U 
6 
718 
16 
1 
9 
1,845 
10 
m 
6M 
656 
16 
10 
1 
1,648 
1694 
1 
la 
2,563 
8 
1 
1,645 
ir^ 
tu 
14 
1,014 
m 
1 
8 
1,845 
17 
2 
3,665 
15 
1 
8 
1,948 
Total for 39 trpat. , 
,..31 
m 
S8,5S0 
