The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-12

peas, wash it till clean, and spread il
one inch thick on the bottom of the
box. On this gravel lay trout eggs, 50
that they do not lie on top Of one
another. Examine them daily to remove
the dead ones, or any dirt, and to wash
the filters when necessary. They will
all hatch when they get ready. Bnt,
how to get these eggs In October
or November so to trout brook aud
walk softly along hose parts of it that
are gravelly aud have running water.
Peep under the banks and the dead logs
until you see pair pi trout lying close
together, their beads to the current
With a hand net, dcxterously used,
both may be captured, and transferred
to pail of water. The female is seen
to be the stouter; she has less. pro-
jectiug under-iaw, and her fins are not
so red "Take her up tenderly," and
do not go poking clumsy thumb into
her gills. Pass the finger and thumb
with gentle pressure along the abdomi.
nal region, and, if the fish is "ripe" the
eggs will flow out freely. They should
be received in pan Of water. Put the
female back take out the male aud
press him in like manner, and allow the
expressed milky fluid to fall into the
same pan. Stir the water with the
hand, cover it, and allow it to stand for
half an hour. At the end of that time
the eggs which had stuck fast to the
sides will become free and roll about
Now gently spread the eggs on the
gravel Of the trough, aud tho primary
work is done. Should the female not
prove ripe, keep her few days in a
pool or spring-hole. The fish thus
captured for breeders should not be set
free, but kept in suitable pool till the
next season. Such preserve may
easily be made by digging out place a
dozen feet square and three feet deep,
grating the inlet and outlet, and lead
ing stream Of water through it. The
breeding fish here kept will feed vora-
ciously, and will cat refuse scraps Of
meat, insects, caterpillars, clotted milk,
hasty pudding boiled with milk, and
small minnows. Thus fed, once or
twice dry, they grow rapidly, aud a
halfpoand fish will get to pound in
year. Meantime, the eggs are grow
ing also, aud in their way. After three
or four weeks two dark specks appear
on each egg, aud these, when held to
the light, are seen to be the eyes Of the
embryo, showing through the translu
cent shell. This is good time to pack
eggs for transportation. Take tin
box, the size and shape of pint
measure, collect also good handful of
peat moss, (SphdgRum,) and wash it
clean. Lay u stratum OF wet moss in
the bottom Of the box, and cover the
same with fold of the gauze called
''musquito bar" On this gauze spread
gently single layer Of eggs, and cover
them with second fold of musquito
bar. Then put more moss, and another
layer Of eggs in like manner, and thus
continue until the box is full. Pit on
a cover with few holes in it, pack the
tin 10 case Of sawdust, and the eggs
are good for month without opening.
When they are unpacked take the moss
off the top, then lift them out by the
gauze, and place them in the Matching.
trough. 1t will be found that they have
developed almost as much in the wet
moss as they would have done in the
water The tiny embryo may be seen
jerking itself uneasily 10 its spherical
prison /; u movement that continues to
increase until, after two or three months
from impregnation, according to the
temperature Of the water, } the creature
bursts its shell and appears in all its
grandeur, looking, to say the truth,
more like II spiritual polliwog than a
real salmonide. This polliwog's char
acter arises from the great yolk sac, or,
rather call il, havresac, for it bears the
thirty days rations Of this recruit All
that time he lies still without Forging
But thereafter we must issue to him,
for now he appears as gentool minnow,
with bars on Ills sides. Twice or thrice
a day little clothed milk, rubbed very
fine in water, must be put in the trough
and the fry may be seen eagerly tc
swallow the floating particles. With
enough food, room, and water they will
grow fast, and will take larger and
larger morsels. Alta year old they may
very well weigh four ounces, though
they may be somewhat larger or much
smaller, according to their treatment
Their increase win depend on depth o.
water, and quantity aud variety Of food
We will give further information il
our next