Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-06-30
Trout BrecHiHD.
HOW TT Is DONE AT BELLOWS FALLS.


A correspondent of the Springfield
Republican says:-
As much attention has lately been
called to the matter of fish breeding, Il
sketch of a late visit to the private trout
ponds of j. G. Bridglnan of Bellows
Fails, may be of interest. Mr.. BridP-
man is retired lawyer, living on
farm Il little from the center Of the vii
lage. The numerous springs on his
property suggested to him the feasibility
of tish-raising as means to his own
qualification but his experience of only
one year has taught him that profit can
be combined with pleasure. From
seven to twelve beautiful springs come
yelling up ut the base of the mountain
where his house stands, and he has
converted his "back yard'' into ponds
of Giving water,N the successive ponds
being filled with fishes according to size.
As Clogs eaty'og," 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.
inches in length; the pond is no larger
than Il good sized parlOr, and to see these
beauties swimming about would make
an old fisherman nervous. They are as
tame as gold fish, and make the pref
test of pets. In all the ponds, some
eight in number, are $4,000 trout of all
ages, from three weeks to as many years;
and Mr.. Bridgman expects to have $780,
600 by another year.
The mOdus OperdnN of trOut-raising
NAV be of interest to the animated.
Trout begin to lay their eggs Spawn
about the first 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 ac-
companied by the male on these tours.
Only Il part of the spawn are ripe at Il
time, and it takes about ten days for Il
female to be rid Of all her spawn, during
which time their escort remains with
them. The spaun are pressed out by the
female swimming rapidly along the
rocky bed of the stream. In her wake
follows the male, impregnating 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
spawning season are caught, and the
spawn are pressed out with the finger
and into the impregnating pan filled
with pure spring water. Then the milt
of the male is put in to imprcgnate it.
1t is estimated that the spawn of good
sized trout contains 1000 eggs, but Mr..
Bridgman's experience has taught him
that the figure is nearly 2000. The milt
of one male is sufficient to impregnate
the spawn.of five fish of the same size !;
Is grains of milt will impregnate 49,
600 eggs, yet in practice much more is
used. The eggs weigh one grain each
and average La IN of an inch in dame
ter. From the impregnating pan the
spawn is placed in grave-filled trays
and laid in the troughs of the Matching
hOuse--a house double boarded and saw
dust lined. Over these trays is conduc-
ted gentle stream of pure spring wa
ter, filtered through several thicknesses
of flannel, and then of filter of gravel.
During the entire process the eggs are
not allowed contact with the atmos-
phere. Nothing now remains to be
done except to see that no harm comes
to the eggs and remove such as spoil.
The water has an even temperature OF
Is degrees, and it takes from 40 to %
days for the Matching process.