The National tribune., 1902-10-23
rmu CULTURE.
Some splendi1 ;spscimens Raised in Spring
S9Eby IA Feet.

Some Splendi1 specimens Raised in Spring
S9Fby IA Feet.
Two fine Swings are upon this farm,
one about 40 feet feet square, and the
other some 10 by IA. The smaller spring
empties its overflow into a brook about
six Or eight rods away, and every year
some OF the young trout find their way up
the brook to the spring. One year a hun
dred or moree came up, and after a
thorough examination of their new quar-
tiers, appeared, to make up their minds
to stay. If we had thought it worth
while, we could at any time have pre-
vented their exit by placing small wire
screen in the riSulet, but this we did not
do until later.
For a time the resources of the spring
were sufficient to satisfy the demands OF
our new tenants, but as they grew larger
their appetites increased and We were
obliged to feed them occasionally. They
would eat almost anything-insects, bread
crumbs, or bits of meat-and they learned
to know their feeding time as well ard
to look forward to it as eagerly as even
the pigs or chickens. Approach the spring
as softly as we might, we always found
them with their noses thrust eagerly above
the surface of the water, and not infre-
quently they would spring five or six
s"ches into the air to catch morsels thrown
them. l have often tried to make n piece
"f meat touch the water, but rarely sue
""eded in doing so. After time we Jegan
to purchase liver and such cheap meat as
our butcher had little sale for and this
we cut into small pieces before feeding to
them. A few cents worth was sufficient
Tor several meals, and we occasionally
diversified it with bread-crumbs and in
SectS.
BY the next Spring our trout were five or
SIX inches in length, and weighed from four
to SIX ounces. Another year doubled this
weight, and by the third Spring many of
them would tip the scales at pound and
quarter, or even more. But we did not
| think of raising trout to sell until the
fourth year. BY that time the trout were
quite large, and we We're afraid of losing
them, so we sent word to the steward of
hotel few mics away and found that
he was not only willing bu. eager to pur-
chase, and that he would pay at the rate
OF dollar pound for the best trout. So
| the next day saw some of our trout dipped
from the spring with a net and carried
away. number of them approached
| three pounds; one weighed three pounds
| and five ounces.
Although we had raised them without
method or object in view, they paid us a
big profit on the expenses and trouble
The hotel steward said he would pay more
Tor trout under two pounds in weight. He
took them all in two different lots some
weeks later. l do not remember the ex-
act number sold, but it was between so
and 80 pounds. For the entire three lots
we averaged % cents per pound. Most of
the trout weighed between two and three
pounds, perhaps 20 fell under two, a few
went above three. They We're three and
four years old-mOst of them four. We
had been feeding them more or less for
over year, giving them bits of liver and
other cheap or refuse meat, and insects,
about twice week. The springs are in
q meadow where there is an abundance of
grasshoppers andi other insects. Many of
these fell into thelspring; others We easily
caught and threw in. Sometimes, for
weeks together, this was all the food the
hsh had. During the first two years or so
the trout found their own living, and |
think if we had reduced the number of
fish to about half they would have con-
tinued to do so
We had leanied several things, the most
important of which was. that trout should
not be kept over two or, at most, three
years. The steward assured us that trout
weighing One-half pound to one pound and
half We're preferable to larger ones, and
would sell more readily. And this state.
ment was subsequently found to be fully
indorsed. Our experience had convinced
us that the fourth years risk amounted to
more than the other three.JThe trout were
then large and yoracious," and required
regular meals, and there was always more
or less danger of them dying during the
hot Summer months.
we found that new stock of young
fry should be started every Spring for suc
cession. In this way, by having an OK.
ira spring or two, and turning off the fish
at three years, there would be no break.
Little nurseries of this kind can be easily
made by sinking barrel or tank into the
ground below the spring So that the over
how OF water can pass through them.
trout must have running water During
me nrst year large number of small fry
VIII thrive in very small place,
Only trout of about the same size can
be kept together, as the large ones eat the
small: But If two or more springs are on
the place, it can be arranged to have
fresh lot to turn off every year.
Except the first time, when our small
trout came up from brook into the
spring during high water we have OBJ |
tanned fish from the Fish Commission. I |
think the Commission has distributing
points in what are supposed to he con, |
venient locations for the people, We have
had fish from Woods Holl, Mass, and |
from Providence. The Commission fIr.
nishes the small fry free, the receiver. of |
course, paying express charges and return
ing the can.
trout spawn IN November hatch in |
March, and the young trout fry 20 out
into the world in search of adventure ini
May and June. During these months
nearly all the brooks and small streams in
the country swarm with infantile fortune
seekers.
Probably twO-thirds of the farms
throughout the country have one or more
clear water springs which are of little or
no use to their owners. Here is a sugge,-
ton: Try trout culture.-Country Life in
America.