The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-15 00:00:00

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TROUT BREEDING 1N VERMONT.

A correspondent of the Springfield Republican
says—" As much attention has lately been called to
the matter of fish breeding, a sketch of a late visit
to the private trout ponds of J. C. Bridgman of
Bellows Falls, Vermont, may be of interest. Mr.
Bridgman is a retired lawyer, living on a farm a
little from the centre of the village. The numerous
springs on his property suggested to him the feasi-
bility of fish-raising as a means to his own gratifi-
cation; but bis experience of only one year has
taught him that profit can be combined with plea-
sure. From seven to twelve beautiful springs come
welling up at the base of the mountain where his
house stands, and he has converted his back-yard
into ponds of living water,' the successive ponds
being filled with fishes according to size. As 'dogs
eat dog,' so trout eat trout, and it is necessary for
their safety to keep those of the same age by them-
selves. A trout will swallow his brother of two-
thirds his own size. The ponds are all connected
by sluices, which are covered with wire gauze, for
the double purpose of protecting the fish and catch-
ing all leaves and sticks. In pond No. 1 are 3,000
large trout, from five to twelve inches in length ;

the pond is no larger than a good-sized parlour,
and to see these beauties swimming about would
make an old fisherman nervous. They are as tame
as gold fish, and make the prettiest of pets. In all
the ponds, some eight in number, are 50,000 trout,
of all ages, from three weeks to as many years ; and
Mr. Bridgman expects to have 500,000 by another
year. The modus operandi of trout-raising may be
of interest to the uninitiated. Trout begin to lay
their eggs (spawn) about the Ist of November, and
for this purpose they seek the head waters of brooks,
the better to insure safety for the spawn, the female
being always accompanied by the male on these
tours. Only a Fart of the spawn are ripe at a time,
and it takes about ten days for a female to be rid
of all of her spawn, during which time their escort
remains with them. The spawn are pressed out by
the female swimming rapidly along the rocky bed
of the stream. In her wake follows the male, im-
pregnating the ova of the female. A raceway
has been built by Mr. Bridgman to which the
fish have access; and as they enter this in the
spawning season are caught, and the spawn are
pressed out with the finger and into the impregnat-
ing pan filled with pure, spring water. Then the
milt of the male is put in to impregnate it. It is
estimated that the spawn of a good sized trout con-
tains 1,000 eggs, but Mr. Bridgnaan's experience
has taught him that the figure is nearer 2,000. The
milt of one male is sufficient to impregnate the
spawn of five fish of the same size ; 15 grains of
milt will impregnate 10,C00 eggs, yet in practice
much more is used. The eggs weigh one grain
each and average 1-6th of an inch in diameter.
From the impregnating pan the spawn is placed in
gravel-filled trays and laid in the troughs of the
hatching house—a house double boarded and saw-
dust lined. Over these trays is conducted a gentle
stream of pure spring water, filtered through several
thicknesses of flannel, and then of a filter of gravel.
During the entire process the eggs are not allowed
contact with the atmosphere. Nothing now re-
mains to be done except to see that no harm comes
to the eggs and to remove such as spoil. The water
has an even temperature of 45 degrees, and it takes
from 40 to 75 days for the hatching process.
Jack and Dick,' two handsome cubs of two
months' growth, form an additional attraction to
Mr. Bridgman's grounds. They were captured
near his house on the mountain, bat not till after
a desperate struggle with the mother.—ll."

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