Next day he took two more trout out of the box and placed them in the glass dish. It was then seen that the first two trout had grown quite light in colour. They were much paler than those taken out of the box, the inside of which was charred and black.
One day Uncle George found two of the trout dead in the box.
“I am afraid, boys,” he said, “that we cannot keep them confined any longer. Get a large pail full of water, and we will carry them to the brook.”
“We must come here and fish next year, Frank,” said Tom, after the trout were transferred to the brook. “How long will it be before they become big trout, Uncle George?”
“They are now about an inch long,” said Uncle George. “In a year they will be four inches long. In about three years, if they are not devoured by larger trout, they will weigh about a pound apiece.”
“I think it is a shame to kill such pretty little creatures,” said Frank.
“I quite agree with you, Frank,” said his uncle.
Exercises on Lesson XIII.
1. Compare a newly-hatched trout with a seed (bean). How do they resemble, and how do they differ from one another? 2. The trout is protected by its colour markings. Make a list of any other animals you know that are “colour protected.” 3. If you put a fish (trout) into water which has been boiled and allowed to cool, it dies. What are your reasons for this? 4. Make notes, with sketches, of the development of a young trout from the time it is hatched until it requires food.