Fish Hatchery
The Sandwich Fish Hatchery is operated by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MDFW). The oldest of MassWildlife’s five fish hatcheries and one of the oldest in the country, the fish hatchery began as the Sandwich Trout Company around 1860 and was sold to the state in 1912. It was originally located at this site because of the artesian springs that supply cold, clean water from the Cape Cod aquifer. Located on about 26 acres of land, the facility includes six raceways divided into 52 fish-rearing pools and a hatch house containing 14 fiberglass tanks where eggs are incubated and newly hatched fish are grown until large enough to be moved outdoors to the rearing pools. It takes up to 2½ years for the half-million fish housed at the hatchery to be ready for release.
Over 75,000 rainbow, brook, tiger and brown trout are annually produced by the fish hatchery and stocked into 35 rivers and streams and 50 lakes and ponds in 27 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts. The hatchery produces 14% of all trout grown and stocked in the state. The Sandwich Fish Hatchery is open to the public year round from 9am to 3pm seven days a week, and draws more than 20,000 visitors annually. Be sure to feed the fish. There are dispensers with fish food for 25 cents. Be sure to bring a plastic cup to hold the fish food and wipes to clean your hands afterwards.
To log this geocache on opencaching.us, the password is Fish Food.
Over 75,000 rainbow, brook, tiger and brown trout are annually produced by the fish hatchery and stocked into 35 rivers and streams and 50 lakes and ponds in 27 cities and towns in Southeastern Massachusetts. The hatchery produces 14% of all trout grown and stocked in the state. The Sandwich Fish Hatchery is open to the public year round from 9am to 3pm seven days a week, and draws more than 20,000 visitors annually. Be sure to feed the fish. There are dispensers with fish food for 25 cents. Be sure to bring a plastic cup to hold the fish food and wipes to clean your hands afterwards.
To log this geocache on opencaching.us, the password is Fish Food.