Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-09-04
FISH CULTURE FOR FARMERS.

| often have letters inquiring how many
trout will one acre, or some other given
amount, Of surface of water sustain. Now,
this is the most difficult question that could
be asked. The surface area of water has
very little to do with it. All depends on
the temperature Of the water and the amount
of flow. have ponds large enough to sail
or row on and cast the fly, but for raising
trout for market | am decidedly opposed to
ponds. All my neighbors have canals, fed
by springs, and make more money than l
do. Ponds freeze up in winter and heat up
in summer. These extremes are not healthy
for trout can raise more trout in canal
dug out deep, and of superior quality,
than can be raised with the same water
damned up besides, we get rid of all risk
of dam breaking, Again, they are so much
easier covered. BY so doing more than
double the quantity Of trout can be kept in
the same water. Some think trout need
sunlight. This is mistake. | have seen a
pair of trout put into well 20 feet deep, 2
feet wide after three years taken out, when
it was found they had gained one pound
year, which is as much as can be depended
that for a standard. A canal or race 10
feet wide and 100 feet long would sustain
1000 trout with little or no circulation, as a
well has no circulation except that the water
runs in as fast as it is drawn out, and no
faster. But your canal must be covered and
dug as deep as possible when you have no
running stream, so as to keep the water
cool. 1T you have one pond of water
to turn in, by extending your canal,
or, what is better, make several short
ones, ten times as many trout can
be kept. But in any and all cases, if you
wish to keep all you can, cover your canals
except pair of trap-doors at the upper end
to be opened on sunny days, and for feeding.
In covering canals lay your timber poles or
plank Just under the surface of the water,
thus they will not rot put on sod, or turf,
cover at least one foot by this method u
springy meadow or swamp can be so thor
oughly under-drained as to be suited for
onions or anything you wish to raise. There
is no loss Of land, and five times as much IN
value can be raised in trout as can be raised
on the surface This is what call under.
ground fish farming. How far this process
Will pay you can utteTmlne Dy trying IL on
a small scale at first. am sure there are
hundreds that would do it if they were sure
Of success, pay or no pay, in dollars and
cents, simply for their own qualification or
amusement This is the only way to keep
trout absolutely safe from poachers or
thieves, as well as ducks, cranes, snakes, and
in fact, all other enemies to trout. Nothing
herewith contained is intended to discourage
those having plenty of running water flow
age sufficient to keep a pond pure and
healthy-ponds are very nice, and add not a
little to the scenery and landscape-but only
for those who cannot support an open pond,
or for those that wish to utilize their water
and land at the same time. | know of many
houses that have, or can have springs in
their cellars. La all such cases, by digging
say two feet deeper, and by laying light
floor, family can raise all the trout they
need for their own use with what curd meat,
&c., that would keep dog and at the same
time afford endless amusement for all con-
cerned.-COr. Neio York Times.