No. 71: Fish Hatchery and Aquarium

The fish hatchery and aquarium at 1660 Route 25A is an example of a successful revamp and privatization of a state business.

The Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium became a private, non-profit educational facility in 1982, ending its 99-year run as a New York state trout hatchery. Today it is a public aquarium and educational facility as well as a "demonstration hatchery" -- trout raised there are sold to stock private ponds.

Hatchery education programs run from preschool through college and use the natural outdoor ponds as well as the aquariums for instruction. Its brochures say the facility has the largest living collection of native reptiles and amphibians in New York state. Its more than 60 species of freshwater fish and amphibians are housed in two aquarium buildings, the Ross Aquarium Building and the Fairchild Exhibit Building, and in ponds where visitors can watch turtles and warm water fish, trout ponds and rearing pools where trout move from the hatchling stage to outdoor pools filled with trout from 1 to 3 years old. Netting tied over the ponds helps keep the fish safe from herons and osprey.

Coming up is Turtle Hatch Day, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 20, where the hatching of turtles is celebrated. Refreshments will be served.

Other special events include the Fall Fair, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, with games, conservation, environmental exhibitions and refreshments planned; egg stripping demonstrations, where eggs are removed from female trout and sperm (milt) from male trout to fertilize the eggs, at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Oct. 29, Oct. 30, Nov. 5, Nov. 6, Oct. 12 and Oct. 13; and a trout birthday party at 2 p.m. on Jan. 8.

There also are regular fish-feeding demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. weekends and at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Catch-and-keep fishing is offered every Friday through Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. During June, July and August, an additional fishing session is offered on weekends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The cost to catch your dinner is the price of hatchery admission plus $5 a session. All trout that are caught must be kept and cost $4 per fish. Visitors can bring their own fishing equipment (no fly rods) or rent a pole, with a hook and bobber included in the rental. Bait and additional hooks and bobbers can be purchased in the gift shop.

Those interested can download a membership application here. The hatchery also is looking for sponsors of some of its animals, with sponsorship costs starting at $10 a year.

The hatchery is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. It is open until 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays in June, July and August. Cost is $6 for adults; $4 for children ages 3-12 and for seniors over age 65. Children age 2 and under and members are free.

 Stay tuned for No. 70 next week, same time same place, as Huntington Patch explores the places and activities in town.