91 
far these micro-organisms minister to the life of the young 
fish. The fish are, however, also fed daily with well-boiled 
liver, finely grated, and on Sundays, Mr. Walker, the Asso- 
ciation’s keeper, treats them to a hard-boiled egg. Close to 
the breeding-house, a slate tank, 24 feet long by 8 feet 
broad, and with a depth varying from 2 feet at one end 
to 4J feet at the other, has been constructed ; and, in this, 
4,000 fish are kept until they are yearlings, when they are 
placed in the small streams and allowed to work their way 
down to the Eibble. This tank, however, is far from suffi- 
cient to accommodate the whole of the fish hatched, and 
hence a considerable quantity are placed at an earlier age 
than one year in the brooks, the larger and stronger fry 
being selected for this experience as being more likely to 
survive in the struggle for existence. The Association has 
the satisfaction of knowing, however, that a considerable 
proportion of young fish are specially protected from their 
natural enemies until they are yearlings, when they measure 
from 3 to 5 inches. The trout is believed to become repro- 
ductive at the age of two years. The total cost of the 
installation was about £80. 
The first experiments in collecting the ova were conducted 
by two amateur members of the Association, in the early 
part of December, 1884. In a small neighbouring brook 
scarcely two yards wide, with a sandy bottom, where the 
fish had repaired to spawn, about 100 fish were netted 
within about 50 yards. The weight of the fish ranged 
from Jib. to 11b. The spawn was taken only from the 
larger ones. ' On a subsequent day over 170 fish were cap- 
tured in the same brook. On both occasions there were 20 
males to 1 female. The ripe female fish were first held over 
a shallow dish containing a little water, and the belly gently 
stroked. The ova fell singly into the dish, no pain being 
caused to the fish. The male fish were then treated in the 
