The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-09-13
More AbOtlt 'H'rNui.
FISH FARM, Aug. :

FISH FARM, Aug. -.
Fish farm Ca description Of which
promised you in q former letter. is situated
on the famous Caledonia trout stream,
about midway between the Villages OF Gale
donia and Mumford, It was originally q
part Of the firm belonging to Mir. John
Mckenzie, proprietor Of the MUmfurd
Hotel, and was formerly The site OF wool
len factory belonging 10 that gentleman.
After the destruction of the factory by fire
s;w-n1ill was erected in its place. About
seven years ago this property was sold to
MessrS. Seth Green aud Z. Nj. Spencer, OF
Rochester. and was converted into what is
now well known rs the Caledonia fish tarm.
On taking possession Of tie place, Mr.. Green
removed the aw-mill, enlarged itsraceway,
and built directly over it an humble hablta-
ton, which has since expanded into a
plain but commodious dwelling, now the
home OF hIr. A. s. Co!liaS, the resident pro-
prietor, who bought an interest in the farm
about three wears ago, and took up his
abode OH it, Mr. Green subsequently turn
ing over its entire care to him. Dir. Collins
is 4 close observer Of the nature and habits
ofthe brook trout, and is thoroughly quail
tied for the business in which lie IS engaged.
He has various improvements OF the farm in
contemplation, anu intends that ii shall con-
tnuc to be. 50 tan as practical purposes are
concerned, the model fish farm OF the coun-
try.
The farm embraces within IFS limits one
hall mile of The stream. The flow Of water
at The farm is something over 300, 600, 900 OF
gallons in every twenty-tour hours. The
farm proper consists Of Il dozen ponds,
VARYING in shape and size, and built of I'M
heWn limestone. They are constantly sup
piled with fresh water from the stream by
race .Naye, with wooden screens ut both
ends TO prevent the fish from escaping, and
to keep cut floating weeds, DC. The trout
are kept separate, as much Gs possible, ac-
cGr1ing 20 their sizes, as the larger fish are
known to prey upon the smaller. a visitor
the other day seriously inquired "Whether
trout eyer ate themselves "a performances
that would rival that Of the man who
Jumped down his own throat. The aggre-
gate number Of breeding trout IN these
ponds is from $4,000 to 90, 900. Although
this statement may SAVIOR OF the prorcrblal
exaggeration of - fish story" 1t is never
theicss true. The largest trout, which are
from twelve to eighteen inches long ana
from four to eight years old, are kept IN the
raceway which runs under the dwelling
house, 1T the northern end OF Whlcn Inc
water falls into the stream below. The tish
are prevented from going down over the
falls BY wooden screen placed across the
raceway under the house.
The sovereign of this watery realm is
named "Loulsa." and is pointed out to
visitors as she gides about in . queenly
manner among her admirlng SUBJECTS. IL
Is quite amusing to see these trout Wheh
they are fed; some of them are Sc, tame as
10 leap I'D out of the water and snatch
their food from the hand of their feeder ];
and il u painful of chopped liver IS heid
little above the surface they will leap INTO
it for the contents. Iu two or the smaii
nursery ponds, sheltered from the sun anu
the rain. are what are called "DaVld,s
Babies" David being the given name OF
the old gentleman who is general purVeyor
for the iinny deniZens OF the farm ana the
babies being infantine trout from fiye to SIX
months old, aud from two and half to touf
inches in length. These young Wrigglers
are brought up on spoon victuals, consist
ing of bonny-clsbber Chick mllk) and
grated liver.
no we'll AS the corn. field, and what the crow
is 20 the aerlculturalist the kingfisher is to
the fish-culturist, one or more OF the last
named depredators being shot here almost
daily. The hatchmg. house IS long, low
woo,,cn building, butt out over the stream
heloyy the dam. it contains twelve trouSbs
t~enty-four feet long, six inches deep ana
fifteen inches wide. These trousas are ai-
yided into what are called nests" ny
cross-strips one-half inch thick ana TWO
inches wide, set edgeWise on Inc Dot1oA ~