Part IV

to avoid the chance of disease amongst young trout j as much as possible, care should be taken to have good healthy \ eggs from well-selected fish, and not only trr's, but eggs which have been properly incubated in a well-appointed hatchery. Too much ' stress cannot be laid upon these points, for with weakly eggs taken from weakly ill-fed fish the grower has but a poor chance. There is a great art in feeding breeding trout, which is only acquired by long experience. To give them neither too much nor too little, and to give them just the right kinds of food, at just the right seasons, is a subject on which a book might be written. No book, however, will ever teach the uninitiated how to do the thing. It must be learned, as must many other things, by practice and a thorough training at some good hsh-cultural establishment. When ' the trout have safely passed the crisis which occurs when artificially fed, that is a few weeks after commencing to feed, and which we call getting over the " distemper," the work becomes one of con- I stant attention on the part of the attendant. The feeding of so many mouths, together with the cleaning of the screens and the regulation of the water supplies, takes up all his time ; and it is most important that nothing should happen to the water supply in any way. Should it accidentally be stopped, even for a short time, great loss may ensue. Too much care cannot be taken so to regulate the intake that it cannot err. The choking of a screen may cause a pond to run over, which should also be carefully guarded against, and ought never to happen amongst a good set of ponds. Should all the necessary details be duly attended to, there is every prospect of a good turn out of yearlings, notwithstanding the delicate nature of the creatures we are dealing with. As they get older the danger of losing them rapidly decreases, and by August they should be comparatively safe, having by that time survived the dangers which fry are heirs to, and become yearlings. It is true they are not a year old, but a great change has come over them that entitles them to the name, which will be more fully explained in my next chapter. CHAPTER XIII. THE YEARLING STAGE. Salmonidce adapted to cultivation Rising to the fly Fish culture requires experience The food of yearlings Must be properly dispensed Development and selection of stock fish Deformities Pedigree stock Sorting Transit of yearlings Netting Preparation necessary Caution to purchasers Yearling nets Yearlings hold their own against large trout Two year olds. T T is now a fact beyond dispute that the various members of the Salmonida are peculiarly adapted to cultivation. This applies both to the anadromous or sea-going fish, and to those which spend their lives in the fresh water. The latter section of the family can be dealt with by individuals, and this has been largely and successfully done. Much better results even can be obtained from the migratory section, including the salmon (S. satar), when the work is properly set about, but at present the amount of lethargy which is shewn with regard to this important matter is surprising. Trout have been materially improved, not only in numbers, which have yielded a heavy increase, but also in quality, which is better. Indeed, we have yet to find out what cannot be done with trout. By means of judicious treatment inferior races have been made into splendid fish, and now is the time to train them to take any special kind of food that may be desired. When in the fry stage they partake freely of food that they have been brought up to, but will often reject other kinds, and it is undesirable at that time to check their feeding operations. Therefore the food that is to be used continually should be the one commenced with. In July or early in August the food may be changed if desired, that is if any more convenient substitute can be found. Now is the time to train them for rising to the fly, a most How to obtain it. 247 important part of the fish culturist's art, and one that seems to have been entirely overlooked in the past. It was found out years ' ago at the Solway Fishery that by allowing the grass and other '.x-" plants to grow, instead of cutting them too much, a host of live stock was produced, and the fish became accustomed to this from their infancy. It is a pretty sight, indeed, to watch the little fish in May, when just commencing life in earnest, rising freely to the fly. It is clear that when the sward is kept bare and the flies are not to be found, the fish cannot take them, and if they do not get the chance they lose the lesson, and a most important one it is. Where flies are produced in large numbers the little fish learn to take them beautifully ; nay, they look for them daily, and depend upon them, and the lesson which is learnt in infancy, and impressed upon them in so practical a manner, is never forgotten. They get a liking for entomology which they never lose, and in after-life will do credit to their race. There is undoubtedly a good deal to say in favour of inherited instinct, and a race of fish brought up to bottom feeding may be followed by a bottom feeding progeny. Even should this be the case, however, early training will prove successful, and the trained fish will win the prize against others. But by feeding them on the surface, and keeping a large number of fish in a pond, an eager- ness is acquired to "go " for their food that is not known amongst wild fish. This tendency provides a wonderful facility for training them, and, as I have already said, they may be taught to do almost anything reasonable, if placed in the hands of an expert who is well up in his work. It must not for a moment be supposed that Dick, Tom, or Harry, if entrusted with the care of a lot of trout, would manage them successfully, even with the aid of books. It requires much patience and skill, and a sort of "inherited instinct" or love of nature on the part of the man, without which the case is hopeless. The individual who possesses this faculty, and there are many who do, may succeed with due care and a sufficient amount of training. A good deal has been said about fish, in these days of progress, ceasing in some places to rise as freely as formerly to the fly. The fact is that many waters are so overfished that the flytaking trout get caught, and so gradually leave behind a bottom- 248 Hoiv to obtain it. feeding race. That this is really the case I can well conceive, from the experience I have had with trout in many ways. There is a remedy for it, however. I am quite convinced of this, We although the application requires a little working out yet. know quite sufficient to be assured of the fact, and have already A learned a good deal regarding the training of fish. vast deal more may be looked for from the fish culture of the future than from that of the past. Many difficulties that existed a few years ago have been overcome, and barriers to progress that at one time appeared insurmountable have, by patient endurance and repeated and untiring effort, been driven to the vanishing point. Fish culture has been sneered at by some who failed in their first attempts, and cases have occurred where, through ignorance or careless working, the great results looked for and perhaps promised by the enthusiast, have not been realised, but this is only what might have been expected. I have repeatedly seen cases in which individuals who have perhaps read some fish-cultural work, or found an interesting paper on the subject in one of our magazines, have at once come to the conclusion that fish could be produced by the million by the expenditure of a trifling amount. It is needless to say that the work of such enthusiasts, entered into very often even without a single consultation with an expert, often results in failure and brings discredit upon a good cause. It is a well-known truism that where one man can live well another will starve, and this certainly applies to fish culture. The idea that the making of a pond and the turning in of a lot of fish is all that is necessary must be exploded, and the work begun on right lines and under careful supervision. It will then be likely to produce results that will be gratifying to the promoter, and which will inspire confidence in the looker-on. To work out all the ramifications of the subject must be left to a few only, who are willing to make it their life work, but on the results of their labour may be built up a mass of information which will enable good work to be done where formerly it was unthought of. With a view to the improvement and promotion of the work, the Solway Fishery has been thrown open as a school of fish culture, and How already this step is bearing good fruit. gladly some of us a How to obtain it. 249- few years ago would have availed ourselves of such an opportunity had it been possible. The natural food of yearlings, as indeed of fry, may be largely augmented by the introduction of various insects in their larval forms, not only as regards those which inhabit the water, but also the soil and its vegetation, and a study of flora and fauna therefore becomes very desirable. This applies not only to rearing or nursery ponds but to streams and lakes, which may often be very materially improved by the introduction and culture of certain forms of life which were formerly non-existent therein. As applied to our natural waters this subject becomes, then, an exceedingly important economic question, which is well worthy of the study and thought which is being given to it. Some of our winged insects simply abound in their earlier stages in certain localities, and under peculiarly favourable conditions. To supply these conditions in contiguity to our fish ponds is a work of great importance, but which has as yet hardly been entered upon. Whilst bearing in mind the value of winged food, the more substantial and solid organisms should not be overlooked, such as mollusca and crustaceans. These play a most important part in the development of fine fish, and also tend to the introduction of that delicate pink tinge of flesh which is so much admired, and to a richness of flavour which is unmistakeable. That the food of fishes has much to do with the flavour of their flesh, fish culturists know quite well. It affects them just as much as the flesh of animals is affected by their food, and experience teaches that a variety of it is the best. It is natural that any animal should be benefited by a mixed diet, and that it is the case with the Salmonidoe, especially when they get older, there is no room for doubt. Where large quantities of fish are dealt with it is desirable to use a certain quantity of artificial food. In conjunction with a good amount of natural food the artificial supplies are beneficial, . and with due care in its distribution and a good flow of water the fish at this stage should give very little cause for anxiety. The daily routine of feeding them as their meal times come round, clearing the screens, and attending to the water supplies, is the constant work of their attendant, and very interesting work it is to 250 How to obtain it. some individuals, who take a real interest in the welfare of the little fish. It is not only necessary to supply food regularly, but to see that the fish get it, and that all get their share. It will be found that some of them rapidly outstrip the others in growth, and begin to " " bully their neighbours. This makes sorting desirable, as these larger fish will, if allowed to remain with their fellows, develop cannibalistic propensities, and devour a goodly number of them. When they begin to do this they grow rapidly, and soon thin down the numbers of the other fish, so that the owner of a pond may sometimes be surprised to find on letting it off, and counting his stock at the end of the season, that there is a great deficiency, far over and above the number which have been recorded as taken out dead from time to time. These large fish, too, receive harm by being allowed to remain with the smaller ones. They naturally grow more and more cannibalistic, and would, if allowed to do so, eat up all the small fish in a pond, and then begin to eat each other. Many large trout are developed in this way, but it is doubtful whether they are desirable fish for breeding purposes. No question can be of much greater importance to the fish breeder than the development of his stock fish. When yearlings are being sorted from time to time, as they are thinned out a few of the choicest and best-made fish should be selected and placed A in a pond where they can be taken care of. pond sixty feet long, eighteen or twenty feet wide, and four to six feet deep will do very well, and such a pond will hold fifteen hundred yearling fish, provided always that there is an ample supply of water. In selecting these fish, great care should be taken to secure those of the most perfect shape, and it will be understood by any one acquainted with cattle or poultry breeding that this is a matter that requires a considerable amount of judgment, as well as a good knowledge of the construction or build of the fish themselves. Some are at once rejected, being too long or too short, or having misshapen fins or opercles, or being otherwise not quite up to the mark. These are at once disqualified for breeding purposes. They may be perfect fish in the ordinary sense of the word and from an angler's point of view, and are perhaps even above average, How to obtain it. 251 but they are to be carefully kept out of the stock ponds, which are afterwards destined to produce fish in abundance for many waters. In a state of nature trout often develop considerable de- formities, and here we have the advantage, by careful selection, of avoiding much of the risk of producing monstrosities and malformations, such as are found naturally in many localities. Cases have been recorded of blind trout occurring extensively in some natural waters, as for instance in the Fischau, near Mandorf, in Germany. I have met with cases myself, both of total and partial blindness, and instances have been recorded in which trout were found to be blind in one eye only. Probably the last-mentioned cases have been due to external causes, but I am satisfied that instances of blindness occur amongst trout which are the result of disease or hereditary weakness of some kind. Blindness is well known to scientists to occur amongst other fish also. Deformities of the jaw and head are not uncommon in some lakes, and, from experiments which I have carried out, I am satisfied that in-breeding is one of the causes. Sometimes the upper jaw is arrested in its growth, and becomes much shorter than the lower one, whilst sometimes the lower one is similarly affected. In some cases the lower jaw becomes so fixed that the fish cannot close its mouth, and occasionally instances may be met with in which the opercles or gill covers, instead of lying close, as they should do, stand out at a considerable angle, and when fish so affected are looked straight in the face, their faces have the appearance of being surrounded by a sort of Elizabethan frill. In the island of Islay is to be found a race of tailless trout, and the hunchbacked trout of Plinlimmon, in Wales, have been alluded to by many writers. These and some other deformities may be caused by the fish being carried over waterfalls, as has been suggested, but, on the other hand, there are many streams of the same kind in which such cases do not occur. It is beyond dispute that a fall from a height is liable to injure the spine of a fish, and some crooked spines may be produced in this way. This, however, would not account for the deformities of heads of fish, and for the deficient gill-covers which have been found to exist. " Remarkable malformations are observed in the trout of 252 How to obtain it. Malham Tarn, and in a beck on the western side of Penyghent. This is manifested in the former by the deficiency in the gill-cover ... in about one in every fifteen fish caught. In the case of the ground trout of Penyghent as they are called, Mr. John Foster informs us that the malformation consists of a singular pro- jection of the under jaw beyond the upper. These abberations are considered to be the result of inter-breeding, due to an extreme degree of " isolation (Yorkshire Vertebiata, p. 127). It is quite likely that deficient gill-covers are in many cases due to in-breeding; certain it is that they can be caused by an attack of fungus when the fish is young, or by an epidemic of gill fever. How far in the two latter oases the deformity would prove here- ditary we have at present no means of knowing, as such fish are never kept to breed from. I have had opportunities of watching to some extent cases of head and jaw deformity, and have known them developed in fish that have passed scrutiny as yearlings, but have been deformed at the two-year-old stage. That some deformities are not apparent until fish are well advanced in life is certain. I have tried the experiment of breed- ing from deformed parents, but the progeny showed no trace of the deformity. On the other hand some fish culturists have suc- ceeded in cultivating races of deformed gold fish which are now well known in our markets. Here the deformity is hereditary, and we find the same to be the case with some birds, the different varieties of fancy pigeons being produced from the wild rock dove (Columba livid}. Amongst domestic fowls and animals the same tendency develops, and we know what great importance attaches to it. An exhibitor at one of our poultry shows failed to obtain a prize for a very fine bird, which to him and some of his friends seemed perfect in every point. He appealed, and some discussion followed, when the reason was given for withholding the prize. The bird had a crooked breast-bone, and was entirely useless for breeding purposes. It was otherwise perfect, and this point had either been overlooked by the exhibitor or he had hoped it would not be noticed. Amongst cattle and horses, too, we know what importance is attached to the different "points," and what an amount of skill and judgment is required in the breeding of pedigree stock. So amongst trout, too much care cannot be How to obtain it. 253. exercised in the selection of the fittest, and in their careful treatment afterwards. The fish, during the yearling stage, are peculiarly adapted for selection. Any cases of deformity at birth, which might easily pass unnoticed in the fry stage, may now be detected by an expert, and a good selection may be made. Formerly, the largest fish were selected, but it has been found that these are often far from being the best to keep for breeding purposes. In the first place, more than an average number will probably turn out to be males, and many of them have grown big by living on their companions, and so are undesirable stock to keep, as the habit is sure to break A out again. very good way of dealing with badly-formed fish is to turn them into a pond by themselves, feed them well till they are two-years-old, and then eat them or market them for that purpose. I have drawn special attention to this important subject for the benefit of future fish breeders. For the purpose of stocking waters the case is very different. Just in the same way that ordinary fowls in a farmyard would often be of no consideration at a show, or for breeding pedigree stock, yet do good work for their owners, so the ordinary or yearling trout, if bred from a good stock are excellent for stocking waters for angling purposes. It is enough for such purposes to lay down ova taken from good fish. In the past, any eggs from any fish have often been taken, but this should be altered if breeds of trout are to be kept up to the mark. sorting the yearlings, it will usually be found that in some Iln ponds at least there are two distinct classes of fish. One class is to be found at the head of the pond where the water comes in, and the other at the lower end of the pond where the .water runs out. Often the difference between these two groups of fish is considerable. Those dwelling at the head of the pond live in a good current of water, which improves even in passing along the raceway, and drives more oxygen into the upper than the fish can get at the lower end, consequently these fish have a better chance in life, and they take advantage of it by feeding better, increasing bone, flesh, and muscle, and are better made and livelier fish altogether. They are more than double the value of the others 254 How to obtain it. and should be carefully separated from them in sorting. Of course, some judgment is required, as in all probability some of the best fish will have scattered during the netting, and so will turn up at the wrong end of the pond. The other class of fish, if put into a pond by themselves and given plenty of good water and food, will pull up their, condition and improve beyond expectation with proper care. August is a good month for dealing with yearlings, which are now for the first time called by that name, and by the end of the month or in September some may be transplanted, provided the water for which they are intended is not too far away. It is true they are not a year old, but they have reached a very important stage in their development. They have already passed through three phases or stages of their existence, viz. : the ovum or egg stage, the alevin or yolk sac stage, and the fry stage, during which latter they commenced to take food by means of their mouths. The last of these stages is passed in spring, and it is one during | R which they will travel long distances with perfect safety. After this, however, comes a period when they will not bear removal, |j chiefly owing to the season of the year, and this is during the months of June and July, and part of August Not only so, but i unless they have been treated with skill, a large portion of them may die