The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-04-10
Fi.h callnre IN Haltimore coanty.


The Baltimore Sun gives an account Of
areccut visit Of the Maryland Academy Of
Sciences to'the fsh farm for raising brook
and other species Of trout, Of Mr. Alex
ander Kent, Green Spring Valley, Balti-
more county, from which we gather the
following interesting particulars:
The artificial breeding Of fish is an ex-
tensive business at the North, but in
Maryland il is yet in its infancy. Mr..
Kent may be considered the pioneer pisci-
culturist in this State. He began the
business some two years ago, in connection
with another gentleman, at Oakland,
Garrett county, but withdrew from the
business there, and in October last started
his fish farm in Baltimore county.
The main portion Of the water which
supplies Mr., Kent's ponds comes FROM
large spring, the source Of Jones's falls.
II is estimated that this spring furnishes
flow of water aggregatisg from / 800 to
1000 gallons per minute. The water is
pure and as clear as crystal The fish
farm is inclosed with substantial hig1
fence, There are three large ponds for
the adult fish, all Of the trout species.
There are several small ponds for the snail
fry, and there is building known as the
"hatching house NJ. Kent explained
each of these to tae vishors, who listened
to his remarks Nth great attention. In
the three large ponds are abOps six thou
sand five aaandred brook trout, ranging in
size FROM about eight to twelve inches.
The trout are beautifully marked, and of
brilliant color.
They have FIVE fins, and move through
the water with great rapidity. Their
favor is particularly liked by epicures, and
they sell readily at one dollar per pound.
The larger fish, with which the ponds were
first stocked, were all caught by the hook
and line in the head waters Of Cheat river,
Western Virginia, known as the black
water region, and are supposed to be about
one and halfto four years old Some Of
the trout from this river grow to large
size, but not so large as those caught in
the lakes. They are largely carnivorous
in their habits; aud the larger ones seem
to be fond of feeding upon the younger
ones and upon the spawn. 1t is necessary,
therefore, in fish culture to keep the small
Ter ones separated from the larger, and to
use contriyances to preserve the spawn
Another singular fact is that when trout
becomes wounded the others keep picking
at its wound until death relieves it Of its
torture, and whenever trout meets with
an accident which deprives it of its eye
sight, its color changes to black.
The large ponds are made of plank, each
about eighty feet long, being nine feet wide
and four deep, with spawning race at the
upper end Of each, thirty feet long and
four feet wide. During the spawning
season, about October, great care has to
be taken to preserve the spawn or eggs.
For this purpose sleeves are placed in the
races, the upper ones containing about an
inch Of gravel. In these the nests are
made by the FISH, who scatter the gravel
around and then deposit their eggs. The
latter fall through upon the lower and finer
sleeves, and are taken from them to the
spawning house. The sieve arrange ment
is used by Mr.. Kent for fish spawning at
night but those spawning by day are
manipulated. The Matching house is
one-story building, forty BIZ thirty-two feet,
containing thirty-two Matching troughs,
twelve feet long, one foot wide, and about
sixinehes deep The water passes through
four filters before being introduced into
the troughs. The bottom Of the troughs
are covered with thin coating of gravel
upon which the eggs are distributed 1t
requires from 80 to 30 days for the eggs
to hatch IN water Of the temperature Of
that at Mr.. Kents farm. At the North
it r,sIuires from so to $50 days, according
to the temperature Of the water. About
80 to 95 per cent of the eggs at Mr..
kent's place are Matched.
For about six weeks or so after hatch
ing il is not necessary to feed the little
fellows at all. After remaining in the
troughs for a sufficient length Of
time they are taken out and placed in
small ponds or in boxes especially arranged
for them. These boxes are about four by |
two feet, and one foot in depth. Mr.
Kent has about 30, 900 small fish, ranging .
in size from about an inch to two inches.
In one Of the boxes he h as about 800 small
salmon trout from the lakes; they arc
darker in color and grow larger than the
brook trout, which he principally raises.
TIE fish are fed once day with liver and
lights cut up dne-that given to the small
fish being first passed through sieve.
The larger fish seem to have yoracious
appetite, and dart to the surface of the
water after their food when it is thrown to
them They would eat beef or other
animal food of that kind, but that is found
too expensive for the fish grower. The
water is kept flowing through the ponds
constantly, both day and night. Mr.. !
Kent explained the great difficulty he
experienced in conveying the fish from
where they we're caught to the pond, it
being necessary to keep the water almost
10 constant motion. As yet Mr.. Kent has
not bad many fish for the market Those
he has sold brought him one dollar per
as.sI Ia. II