The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-10-26
TROUT OF MANY COL0RS.
THE WONDER FULACHIEvEMENTS
OF SETH AND MONROE GREEN.
A Wis { 60 the New York STATE Iuatcii-
cries--A COl1et ton of the Finest
Food Fish in the world.

ulN ILLUS cuSI vi DullalO, on Jne ll0C
of the Rochester and Pittsburg railroad,
lies the little village of Caledonia. One
mile to the north is the equally pleasant
village of Mumford, and midway between
the two are located the famous New
York State fisheries and hatcheries. The
modest sign, "New York State Fish
Farm" adorns the gatepost in front of
the somewhat dilapidated farmhouse, and
short drive through a winding lane
brings the visitor to the great pscicul-
tural nursery. The present State hatch
cries are the outgrowth of the primitive
establishment erected by Seth Green, the
g father of fishes" as far back as 1864.
He was attracted to the spot by the
beauties of Spring creek, which sweeps
down from the south through grassy
meadows hanked by noble forest trees.
The water is clear and cold, and has
been the home of beautiful and gamev
brook trout from time immemorial
This creek possesses not only all the re-
quisites of tirst-class trout stream, but
is in its peculiarities one of the wonders
of nature. Scarcely a mile in length, it
has a volume of water sufficient for the
daily supply of quarter of million of
people. Its source is in so-callcd springs,
some places of the diameter of barrel
The watershed Immediately dioining the
stream is so limited that the amount of
surface water flowing into it is too in
considerable to affect either its purity or
its temperature Scientists entertain the
belief that Spring creek is the outward
continuation of II great underground
stream, receiving its supply from some
o+bor nvtnrDol 1vntnr ,,,ilnc a,yov bn
banks of this delightful stream Seth
Green erected small Matching house, and
commenced the work which has since
grown to such enormous proportions.
The first efforts were devoted to the
propagation of salmon trout. OF ne
cessity his operations We're limited, and
it was not long before he sold out to a
Mr. Collins of Rochester. Subsequently
the premises were leased by the State,
and up to the year 1915 the practical
operations of the New York fish com
mission were conducted there. The
urgent demand for spcckled trout caused
the legislature to make an appropriation
of $4,000 with which the original site
and Matching appliances were purchased
From that year the science of breeding
and raising fish has made rapid strides.
o the TWO DTOlDcTS, NCln anu 4hOHIOc
A. Green, belongs the chief honor. The
former holds the position of general SUI
perintendent, while Monroe has direct
charge of the practical workings of the
establishment. Monroe Green is a natu-
raj genius His inventive skill has over
come all the difficulties that formerly at
tended the propagation of fish, so that
depopulated streams have been replen-
"a. i ,1,+ 7Esl, o1
the millions BY his inventions the eggs
of fish have been transported to all points
in this and foreign lands many of them
in exchange for others, the result being
choice selection for stocking purposes.
The State hatcheres of to-day include
about six acres of land and water. The
grounds contain numerous ponds pro-
vided with gates and screens, so that the
water in them is constantly changing
and is always fresh. In one section of
the ponds are brook trout from two to
three years old, the one adjoining CON
tanning four-vear Odds. In four sections
alone are 40, 900 fish, which are kept for
breeding purposes. Another pond is
filled with Lake Ontario Lake Huron
and Georgian Bay trout, which were
Matched on the grounds These fish arc
from three to eighteen pounds.
The feeding of these monsters is a
sight we'll worth witnessing. They will
lamp four or five feet out of the water to
seize the food. not waiting till it strikes
the surface. During the time of feeding
the water splashes and boils as though
some powerful submarine force were at
work The food consists of mixture
of tripe and liver.
Thirteen sections of the ponds are
filled with beautiful California mount ain
trout There are about 3, 600 in each pond.
There are also sections filled with the
Rainbow or Cloud River trout, the hand
soonest fish known to pisciculturists.
BY many this is considered finer and
gamier fish than our own native trout.
The spawning season is preferred by
many as the time for visiting the State
hatcheries. The observant person vii
certainly gain much valuable experience
by the visit The pond number thirty
five. At the head of each is a covered
sluice with bed of gravel. Into thes'
sluices the fish run to spawn. At thu
proper moment they are taken by expert
enced manipulators, the spawn pressed
into tubs and Immediately impregnate(
with the INIT from inc male llsll. mel
the eggs are transferred to trays which
fit into Matching cases, there being twclv
to fifteen trays to each case. These ar
placed in troughs through which pur
water is kept constantly running. TIL
effect is the same as when the spawn hav
been naturally cast in spring currents
Each day the contents of the trays ar
carefully inspected and all dead spawl
removed. The fry when hatched-whicl
in the case of trout is usually about tel
weeks-are deposited in shallow troughs
partially filled with gravel, where the
lie about five weeks. They are the
transferred to boxes with screened bot
toms, anchored in the open water, ant
are ready for distribution. hiladelphi
Press.
Violet Cultivation.