The Portland daily press., 1874-09-12
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD
Fish Culture for Farmers.

1 often have letters iuquiring 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 tenn
perature of the water and the amount OF flow.
/ have ponds large enough to sail or row OIL
and cast the fly; but for raising trout tor
market I am decidedly opposed to ponds. All
nv neighbors have canals fed by springs, and
make more money than l do. Ponds freeze
up winter and heat up in summer Thdse
extremes are1not healthy for trout. l can
raise more trout in canal dug out deep, and
of a superior quality, than can be raised with
the same water damned up; besides, we get
rid of all 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 sun
light. This is mistake / have seen a pair
o. trout put into well 20 feet deep, 2 feet
wi, ,Se; after three years taken out, when it
was found they had gained one pound year,
which is as much as eau be depended upon
under any circumstances. Now take that
for stan dard. A canal or race 10 feet wide
and 100 fees long would sustain 1000 trout
with little or no circulation, as we'll 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. IT you have one
pond of water to turn in, by extending your
cana, or, what is better, making 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 a pair
of trap-doors at the upper end to be opened
on sunny days, and for feeding. In covering
canals Law your timber poles or plank
inst under the surface of tie water, thus
they will not rot; put on sod or turf, cover
at least one foot; by this method sprngy
meadow or swamp can be so thoroughly
derdrained 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 underground
fish farming. How far this process will pay
vol can determine by trying it on small
scale at first. ] am sure there are hundreds
that would do it if they were sure of success,
pay or no pay, in collars aud cents, simply
tor their own qualification and amusement.
ibis 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 herein contained
is intended TO discourage those having a
plenty of running water fowage sufficient
10 keep pond pure and healthy-ponJs are
very nice, and add not little to the scenery
| and landscape--but only for those who can
rot 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.
In ali such cases, by digging say two feet
deeper, and by laying light floor, a 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.
A. j. HINDs.-Country Gentleman.