Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-03-22
Mllstelianrous.
The Trout Farm.

| One of the curiosities of Rhode Island
is trout farm, place where trout are
raised for market The industry is new
comparatively. Ten or fifteen years ago,
artificial propagation of trout as bust
very few such establishments, equipped
as the Rhode Island one is, are in opera
ton.
Several years ago, locomotive engi-
neer, who had been at his post for twenty
years, was obliged to choose some other
calling. The continual jar of the engine
had such an effect upon the nervous sys-
tenn that paralysis might result. The en-
gineer went back to his old home-to his
ancestral acres, to work out and to solve
the bread and butter question: question
in which all OF us are considerably inter
ested. The farm was an average New
England farm, that had depended upon
itself for renewal-rather lean in fertile
area, and fat in surface rock and stubborn
soil. Although it might, by much coax
ing. provide the necessaries of life, yet
the engineer decided upon other means
of livelihood. Through the farm ran
happy go, chuckling brook. bosterous in
spring, but gentle in summer. 1t threw
out its foam bells, that is to say, it kicked
up its heels, within a stones toss of the
farm house Why should this brook run
on and on. year after year, and do moth
ing tor right of way through the farm?
The engineer decided that the brook
should be the nursery for trout-his chief
assistant in appeasing the appetite of
epicures.
In raising fish it is necessary to have a
body of water, subject to little variation
throughout the year The brook is swol-
len in thawing time, but as its watershed
is small, and its source perennial springs,
| its surplus water does not embarrass. A
dam across the brook near the house
makes a pond about four acres in extent
When Your correspondent visited this "vi-
vary" the pond contained about 1000 or
5000 trout. Along the sandy side of the
pond the water was shallow, and the
mother trout were making their nests, and
in making depressons in the sand kept
the water in motion by the tail fins. When
anyone approaches, they glide swiftly into
deep water 1t the visitor remains mo-
tionless. the trout return to their nesting
places. At the upper end of the pond.
where the brook enters, there is a bulk,
head to keep the fish from going up
stream. and in it wheel revolves, so
near the bottom and sides that no fish can
escape Below this bulkhead, stemming
the current. were trout by the hundred.
all sizes. from half pound to two pounds
in weight A hook and line might be
used. but scoop would take more fish.
| The fish were fed on alternate DAYS at five
o'clock. 1t was desired to change the
hour but the fish would not consent. they
would not come to the feeding place ex-
cept at the time to which they had been
accustomed.
The fish in the pond, however. do not
receive the trout farmers chief attention.
Below the dam. and AUDITING on it, is the
artificial Matching establishment. To
control the water running from the pond,
a ten-inch pipe was laid on the bottom of
the pond under the dam. An elbow on
this pipe brings the water to the level of
that in the pond and it is thence conduct
ed to any part of the hatchery" Below
the dam are numerous tronghs and minia-
| ture ponds. in which fish of various sizes
by the hundred thousand, are striving.
with the help of liver. to reach a market
able age.
In November, artificial spawning be-
gins. The best specimens among the fe-
male fish are taken from the water, and
the spawn obtained by pressure of the
hand. The milt of the male is secured
in the same way and mingled with the
spawn. The impregnated spawn is placed
in shallow trays, the bottom of which is