Stocking Streams

Persons who own trout-streams would very often like to have them re-stocked, and some make feeble attempts to do it, by putting in a few thousand young fish. This would re stock a small stream, if it were done every year, for some years. But it is folly to suppose that a large stream which has been fished lor years, and thousands taken from it every year, can be restocked quickly by putting in a few hundred, or even a few thousand young. If you attempt to stock your streams at all, don't do it half-way. Remember that the less fish you put in, the longer you will have to wait. It is much easier to stock a stream than to raise fish in ponds; because the young fish will take care of themselves better than any one can take care of them ; and if they are protected from danger, until they are forty-five days old, they are then tolerably able to look out for themselves. In stocking a stream, the young fish should be taken to its head-waters, or put into the springs, or little rivulets, which empty into it. As they grow larger, they will gradually settle down stream, and run up again to the head-waters in winter to spawn.

When putting fish into a stream, do not put them suddenly into water much warmer than that of the vessel in which they are brought. They will not so likely be injured by putting them into colder water; but try to avoid all sudden changes, and gradually raise or lower the temperature of the water in which you bring them, until it is even with that of the stream in which they are to be placed. - Remember that it will be two years before you can hope to sell any fish for table use; so do not enter into the business unless you have some means of support for that time. The persons who have the most natural advantages for this business are those farmers, who have springs or cold streams on their farm - now almost useless - but which may be turned to advantage in raising fish. They, depending on their farm meanwhile for support, can give time and attention to the experiment, and engage in it altogether if it succeeds, or abandon it, without serious loss, if they fail. It is peculiarly adapted to them, also, because it demands most attention in the winter, when they have least to do on the farm. Meanwhile, it would be well tor impecunious young men, seeking fortunes, to leave the business to capitalists and corporations.

To those who wish to raise fish for their own table use, or to afford sport in angling, we would say that we can think of no way in which a little time and money can be so well laid out as in trout-raising.

A prejudice existed in the public mind for a time against raising brook trout for public waters. This was regarded as interfering with private trout breeders and tending rather to the encouragement of sporting than to the increase of the supply of fish food. But this prejudice has been overcome. The advantages of some healthful and exhilarating out door amusement are pressing themselves more and more upon a nation of hard working men, who are confined day after day, and often half the nights, at the desk or in the counting room, and who suffer to so. large a degree from paralysis and softening of the brain. All work and no play has been found not only to make Jack a dull, but a sickly and miserable boy. Our ancestors had in a thinly settled country as much physical labor as their bodies needed, but their descendants are suffering for the want of out door exercise.

Nor is this all. Perhaps in no branch of fish culture are the results more immediate and more apparent in the mere return of food than in brook trout culture. Innumerable inland streams that were once inhabited by trout are now wholly depleted and denuded, not only of that kind of fish, but of all others. They are bright, sparkling, noisy, like some men and utterly empty. They make an instantaneous and wonderful return for restocking. Fry placed in them are absolutely safe. There are no enemies to threaten their existence. They have the whole water to themselves without even a parasite to bother them. Food is abundant, for it has been increasing for years, and they-not only live in security, but grow with rapidity. In the year 1875, the State of New York directed its Commissioners to purchase a trout breeding establishment, and to raise and distribute brook trout. Since then some million and a half have been hatched yearly, and many streams have been replenished. In every instance the results have been most gratifying. It would seem almost as though every fish lived and increased in size steadily, till he was caught. Those that were taken first were small of course, those that were left had the more food and by next year yielded nearly as much in weight although fewer in numbers, as the first. The following year the fish were still larger and without allowing anything for the natural increase, furnished a splendid return for the first investment.

This addition to the yield of any stream is so apparent as to convince the most skeptical. It is not to be disputed or gainsayed, and those who have once visited a trout stream the year after it has been stocked and have seen the young fish then from three to five inches long darting out at every step from under weeds and roots for the entire length of the stream, will need no further proof that trout culture is eminently practical. In such cases you may almost say that the number taken from a stream will depend simply upon the number you put in, while the cost of hatching and transporting them is as nothing compared with the yield of pleasure and profit. No brook that has once contained trout need any longer be without a good supply of them. Shad and salmon go to the sea, and when they return only swell the natural yield which varies at best and is influenced by other causes, so the direct effect is not clearly seen. Whitefish and salmon trout are almost lost in our vast lakes and rivers, but brook trout remain where they are placed, grow and are caught among the residents of the neighborhood, and contribute directly to the support and amusement of the people. Streams that have been wholly worthless in producing food are once more replen ished and are often rendered a very valuable adjunct to a farm or country place. Trout will always bring a good price in market, and the farmer who has a good trout stream or pond on his place can rent the fishing to advantage if he does not care to keep it for himself, and as population increases such fishing privileges will become more and more valuable,