The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-21
Mr.. GILBERTS TROUT FARM:
sUCCEssFUL ENTERPRISE IN FISH
CULTURE AZ PLYMOUTH, MASS

and Exceedingly Expensive Fly Fishing
Bosros. June 1S.-1t docs not sound likel,
that crop OF trout and a crop OF cranberriei
should be raised on the same plot OF ground
| yet that apparently inconsistent scheme II
worked successfully within three miles OF thu
| spot on which the Pilgrim Fathers first planted
| their feet-a place around which such hal
| lowed memories rest that the proverbial fist
story would be decidedly out OF place. Mr.
| Walter L. Gilbert's trout farm, tho biggest II
| the country, ia situated ut Plymouth. Mass.
and he also owns cranberry bog. which
yields annually an abundant harvest As soor
| as the cranberries are gathered Mr.. Gilber
| turns his trout loose over the flooded bog. ant
| in the spring their sleek forms are harvested
| and sent to market The land thus performs
| q dual duty. which is without parallel in this
| country. There are not many plnces where
the conditions favor such combination. Cape
| God cranberries are famous all over the coun-
| try. and Cape Cod trout are delicacies which
require no endorsement but Mr.. Gilbert Is the
only man who can boast OF raising both on the
came garden patch"
Mr.. Gilbert is pioneer In the trout raising
industry. and his efforts to extend that pur-
suit have greatly stirred up the Massachusetts,
legislators and fly fishermen. He raises trout
on the same largo scale that other men raise
poultry or hogs or cattle. Now he seeks the
privilege OF placing them in the market, sub
ject only to the natural restrictions OF the
spawning season. Under tho present laws Of
the State It IL unlawful to catch or sell or ex-
pose for sale or to have in ones possession. u
trout before the first day OF April or after
tho first day OF September. Mr.. Gilbert wants
the privilege Of selling his artncially raised
trout after the fifteenth day Of January. two
and one-hnlf months earlier than the open
season for Wild trout begins. A bill granting
him that privilege passed by both branches of
the Massachusetts, Legislature was vetoed by
Gov. Russell on the ground that 1t would
be fatal to the fish and game laws. and that it
was pornicious legislation for tho benefit Of
the few. The Governor had just returned
from weeks trout fishing expedition in
Maine. and the friends Of tho rejected meas
ure assert that his personal interest in fly
fishing led him to discriminate in favor Of the
comparatively few mon. wielders OF the rod.
against the masses who. II the bill had become
a law. would DO able to enjoy the luxury OF
trout on their tables cost but little higher
than the cost OF the more common fish. Trout
culture would have been added to tho list Of
Massachusetts, industries for several synd-
Gates stood ready to begin trout culture as
soon as tho bill should become a law.
OF cou1se. Mr.. Gilbert has the privilege OF
he claims the right to put tho product OF his
labor upon the market at any and all times
when such product is in fit condition to be
eaten. He claims that any law that infringes
upon his personal rights Is unconstitutional.
md proposes to make test case Of the matter
In order to have tho Supreme Court rule upon
It. He declares that the fish and game law OF
so far as it applies to trout. is
absurd. Whereas other fish spawn in tho
spring and summer. trout do not deposit their
eggs until the fall OF the year-from Oct. Is to |
Dec Is. The spawning season being over by |
he middle OF Decembo. Mr.. Gilbert avows. |
therefore. that there would be no danger to |
he trout. 80 far as the perpetuation of that |
species OF fish Is concerned. if the opcn season
began the first Of January and continued until |
he last OF September. Wild trout do not ro-
sumo their plumpness until the last of March.
because the supply Of food is curtaied while
sally raised trout. however fully recover from
@p r T oi as nra
Wild trout when the anglers are permitted to
For ter ten years Mr. Gilbert sought in vain for
se 81 would en b nm to raise bs
very season he learned some new trait. but
he trout absolutely. refused to thrive in cap
rive up the ghost. Mr.. Gilbert analysed tho
yater from his springs. and founditn rs pure as
vas an sbundanco q It too it's temperatare
I'D not vary 1--WE degrees the year round. and
'e undertook to raise them artificlaily. He
lad about given up n despair when one day
fss ss hns sns II the sba
rout He had flowed new land and had cleared
Immediately drained his ponds. cleared the
81 All sn5dkb S thereon
ad the satisfaction OF raising as pretty a
crop" Of trout as one would wish to see. 10.
az he owns several ponds full Of trout in
e possesses 5000 pounds Of i've is fa two
ears ola END ID eyer; 10000 yearlngs which
than 100000 sh Just TIL hat sasHn N ext
ear he would increase his plant ii his bill had
The process of raising trout is simple
nough II ono oply knows how and II all tho
onditions are favorable Lot no one think
y spy
he most ~, important feature OF the plant. but
e se e w Hns a sS eVen @
Ven in the coolest Winter weather. no or show show
! the hottest Of summer DAYS. 4 brook that
llhls those conditions and whose water Is
te n be h4sSs
'ol the headwaters thereof. 1t can DO made |
yield more gold and silver IN proportion to
le outlay Of capital than the richest m Inc.
nd will at the sumo time furnish rare sport
" the fisherman.
Given a suitable brook. the next step toward
'tablishlng trout farm is a Matching house. i
+. Gilberts place mt the Old Colony Trout
onds will serve as IA good example. Tho
lilding is long .ono-story structure with
nall windows ct either end. which furnish :
,ly enough light to reveal tho hatchways
here are more thnn II dozen long trou;:hs ,
bout foot wide and twenty feet long. tho J
mber in my establi shment being regulated (
J tho scale upon which the business is con-
lcted; The spring water Is led through a
q main from the headwaters OF the brook. a
big tank ut the upper end Of the matching
'usc. :, This nqueduct keeps the water free h
ON all contamination. From the tank the
alter Is fed through pipes into each Of b
% hatchways. Extra precautions are used
keep oil impurities from the spawn. q
each faucet The water flows through the
Itchways with a depth Of three or four G
ehes. and empties into the main brook be-
" the Matching house. Along the Sides Of :,
oh hatchway about two inches from the
ttom.a cleats upon which the frames hold. a
9 tho eggs are, suspended. Tho eggs are thus
pt suspended In the running water, and r
Q poss ibiity OF their being covered by i'm y