Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-04-12

as well as day, from that time to this. Inc
largest and finest trout are taken IN the eve
ming with large artificial white or gray mil
Ter.
The number of trout in this stream of a
mile in length is computed at upwards OF
800, 600. the largest of which are each four
or five pounds in weight. About four thou
sand pounds of trout are taken from the
creek yearly. Mr.. Ainsworth, of West
Bloomfield, to whose excellent article pub
lished in the Tribune last winter we are in
debted for these statistics, says that on the
18th of December, 1865, he took with the
fly hundred and ten fine trout in about
three hours, and on the next day took eigh-
ty-fve splendid fellows from one place.
These trout, he says, were as fat, active and
gamey as he ever saw them in any other
stream in May or June. Seth Green, the
celebrated marksman and hy-thrower Of this
city, bought this creek in 1854, for the pur-
pose of growing trout arti6cially, as well as
naturally, on an extended scale.
He has since prepared ponds, races, hatch
houses and Matching boxes and troughs for
10000 of spawn. The pond containing
the largest fish and principal spawners was
first constructed. A strong volume OF water
passes through it from the main stream, the
quantity received and discharged being SO
regulated that there is no danger of over
flowing. 1t enters under wheel which is
so exactly fitted to its place that not the
smallest fish can escape, and maintains
regular motion. This pond is seventy five
feet deep. Mr.. Green's dwelling is over the
lower end of this pond, which affords shade
and hiding place for the trout when they
choose to retire from view.
There are from eight to ten thousand fish
in this pond, and water enough for fifty
times that number A great deal of food
passes through to them from the stream, but
they are fed every day with beef liver chop
ped, to which they rush in the most excited
manner, leaping out Of the water, and tug
ging voraciously two or three at time at
the same piece. They are so tame that they
will take the liver from spoon or even from
the hand, and will even bite tie hand ITSELF
as we can testify from the sharp experience
of their teeth.
To lover of fish no finer sight can be
presented than the sight of this pond, swar-
ming with splendid trout, as plainly visable,
SO clear is the water, as if they were in the
open air. 1t is a gigantic aquarium, which
probably has no rival in the world, and the
mere sight of which will repay the trouble
and expense of long journey. But besides
this main pond Mr.. Green has another close
by it fifty by thirty feet, which contains
about 20, 900 two year old trout and still an
other, filed with countless multitudes of
yearnlings, and lastly, long pond or brook,
in which are hundreds of thousands of this
year s Matching
The Matching house is simple, inexpen-
- g --aol G.
high. 1t has three screened windows, ad-
mitting soft light, and excluding the glare
of the sum- Being rooted, the spawn and
storms or hail, which in shallow water might
in one minute DESTROY. thousands of yonnG
trout or a heavy and sudden fall of rain
might wash them from the troughs where
they are kept for several weeks after leaving
the Matching troughs. These are three in
number.
The water is brought from the main
stream through bored logs and received into
a tank six feet long, two feet eight inches
wide, and foot and a half deep, from
whence it passes through six strainers into
a trough running entirely across the end of
the house, and from thence by small gates
(which are regulated at pleasure to increase
or diminish the flow of water) it passes into
the several Matching troughs, &C. These
troughs are subdivided, or rather two are
placed together, and between them are pas
sages for conveniently distributing the
spawn, inspecting the. operation Of feeding
and Matching the young fish. By wooden
bars the troughs are partitioned into small
squares.
By this arrangement the force of the cur
rent is checked at each bar, and the front are
prevented from huddling In mass and be-
coming sutfocated. The space on one side
is platform, having stove and the various
conveniences for feeding, &,r At one end
is pond eighteen feet square, wlGh about
two feet depth of water If by any means
trout escape from the troughs, they cannot
get beyond the pond, and the room is ample
for keeping millions until they are two OF
three inches long. From this pond the wa
ter passes into the main stream The hatch
ing house and troughs, though not exten-
sive, are fulfilling the highest anticipations
of their persevering and enterprising pro-
prietor. The bottom of the trough is cover
ed with small, thin gravel, over which the
water passes by gentle flow.
Thus prepared, they are ready for the re-
ception of the impregnated spawn, which
are spread evenly over the gravel by dex-
trous movement of the water, the spawn
not being touched or allowed to come in con
tact with anything but the water and gravel.
Impregnated spawn sink to the bottom, in
water running with considerable force, and
will remain stationary, if undisturbed, until
the young fish begin their efforts for re-
lease from confinement. In from fifteen tc
twenty six days after the spawn is deposit
ed, the young fish, is discernible with the
naked eye.-Syracuse Journal
THE SUNNY SIDE.