This is the time when some of the young trout will be transported from Sandwich to the other hatcheries to be raised. They remain at the hatchery for a year and a half to two years before being ready for stocking. In addition to the daily feeding and monitoring of the trout at the hatchery, Al Aittaniemi and his staff will be moving fish and cleaning raceways on a regular basis to prevent any disease from developing and spreading. Nowhere will you find such dedicated people as those that work the hatcheries. These trout are the favorites of the children who visit the hatchery.
Kids love to feed the trout with the food provided from a vending machine next to the raceways.
So, the next time you are in Sandwich, take time to visit the hatchery. The Sandwich Hatchery is becoming an increasingly popular spot for both tourists and locals alike. Its layout makes it easy for families to see and enjoy the fish, and observe the trout at their various stages of development. The staff has worked long and hard to bring this facility back from the brink of nearly being closed. The quantity and quality of fish they raised again this year proves that they are a very valuable and needed part of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife hatchery system.