Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-29
Self-Sustaining Fish Culture.

We understand any business to be self
sustaining when the necessary or reasonable
amount OF capital has been expended in its
establishment, and the income pays a salts
factory dividend over and above all contin-
gent or running expenses. For instance, it
is very little expense to dam up a small
stream, aud stock it with bass, perch, bull.
heads, and some other fish, as they spawn in
aud around the edges OF the pond, and when
hatched out will fnd their way into every
nook aud corner for protection-places unfit
for young trout to live in. Thus perch fast .
en- their spawn to weeds, roots, overhanging
limbs Of trees, &c. Their eggs are very
small, and can no moro be counted than the
sands on the seashore. In fact they look in
a mass like the white of hens egg. On
the contrary, brook trout lay only definite
number Of eggs, varying from 200 to 4 900
per pair, according to size and age. Nature
has wisely provided them with the instinct
ofPpOtecting them by burying them in sand
or gravel, and if it was not for the fact that
they spawn at different seasons, according
to age,l varying from September to January,
and that the old ones lay their eggs first,
and that those that come after often, Il
might say generality in making their nests,
dig up and destroy the first laid eggs, aud
also that after being hatched the young fry
are exposed to numerous enemies, unless
screens are placed over them, say if it
we're not for these facts brook trout would
increase indefinitely. Just figure up an in
crease Of the lowest estimate that they ever
spawn, say 500 per pair, and see how long
it would take to have q million of trout.
Well, now, it is not only possible, but prac-
ticable, to SO protect the young fry as not
only to make the business self sustaining,
but Immensely profitable. In the first place,
we are not In favor Of ponds at all for rails
ing trout for market, as many can be raised
in stream dug deep and wide in the form
of canals. Thus the water can be regulated
at will. The only good reason for making
ponds is for use by II club for private fishing
with boats. One other reason may be valid
in the interior, where feed is expensive.
Ponds encourage the growth of insects, and
a large number Of trout will not only live
but grow fat, especially for the first few
years, without any other food than what
nature provides as have learned by expe-
rience but near the seashore, especially in
this vicinity, feed does not cost one cent per
pound, so that making ponds here to raise
feed is not advisable. 1t is said that trout
will not increase in ponds. This is true,
that is if the springs are all choked and the
bottom is all mud. If trout can't fnd sand
or gravel to spawn in they will not spawn at
all, any more than hen will lay when shut
up in dark cellar, or any more than wild
animals will breed shut up in cage. Ma
ture does not do business in that way. A
pond raised to its fullest extent, so that no
water runs through the Aume, will grow fat
trout (t sustained by springs,) but in that
case you will have to buy the young every
year to replenish the pond. To make a
pond not only self.sustaining but highly pro-
ductve, you must not choke the head Of
springs, but dig shallow canals, say two to
four feet wide, board the sides, put in grav-
ell, if not there already, and if you wish to
save all, put galvanized wire-screens on
scantling, and put coarse gravel on these
screens, four to six inches deep. Then
when the trout bury their eggs in the
ground, they will fall through the screens
and can't be eaten up or destroyed. The
mesh in the screen should be fve-eighths OF
one-half inch put on the gravel and work
all the fine through one inch space between
the screen and bottom bed Of gravel is sufi.
cient Now let in your trout, and they will
do the rest two inches Of water is ficient.
II you have not this, put in board and
raise the water. The trout will scale any
waterfall in spawning time, if it is five feet
high. On this plan it is safe to let the
trout remain all winter, or until they begin
to hatch, which, in this latitude. is about
April to June Is. 1t takes about sixty
five days for trout eggs to hatch in this lat
itude. OF course the variation in Matching
is the same as in spawning. But before the
trout begin to hatch the old ones must be re-
moved, and within sixty days after Matching
take up your screen and put them on top OF
all the gravel. Now your young fry are
perfectly secure against all intruders. Feed
according to numbers and flow OF water
The expense the first year is mere nothing
have given directions for feeding hereto,
fore, and will simply say a spoonful Of
lobbered milk will feed 1000 a day. Fol
the first six months dilute it in a bowl o.
water and Airt it in with a quill; blood
from liver is good Never feed enough t.
! foul the water. Thus, after things are per