422 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



ordinary method. Mr. Atkins, however, causes them to drop 

 upon twigs, pieces of cocoa-matting, etc., and then subjects 

 them to the fertilizing influence of the male. He in this 

 way obtained about a hundred thousand from each female, 

 the time of hatching extending over nearly a month. The 

 young are hardy and vigorous, and will probably require 

 five or six days for the absorption of the yolk. Mr. Atkins 

 thinks that the conditions of success in treating the hatch- 

 ing of carp artificially are those which have just been men- 

 tioned, and, in addition, a strong current for the hatching 

 and development, together with the avoidance of all jarring. 



SETH GREEN'S ARTIFICIAL HATCHING OF STURGEON. 



A very important experiment has just been made success- 

 fully by Seth Green on the artificial hatching of sturgeon, 

 a subject to which he has had his attention directed for 

 some years, but which he has not been able to carry into 

 actual effect until 1875. No details of his experiment have 

 yet been published ; but it is understood that he has found 

 little difficulty in breeding them, and that he has turned 

 many thousands into the Hudson River. 



The sturgeon is a very valuable fish, the flesh being not 

 only excellent when fresh, but particularly nice when smoked. 

 The caviare and isinglass obtained from the fish constitute 

 important elements of its value, both of which are now man- 

 ufactured in various parts of the United States on a large 

 scale. 



An incidental effect of the experiments made by Mr. Green 

 will be the policing of the Hudson River, and keeping it free 

 from the shad seines which now prevent the upward move- 

 ment of the fish. Another season the sturgeon will proba- 

 bly encounter these nets, tearing them to pieces in their pas- 

 sage. 



THE NEW "WESTMINSTER AQUARIUM. 



Among the magnificent aquaria lately started in Europe, 

 that of "The Royal Aquarium and Summer and Winter 

 Gardens" at Westminster, now in process of erection, prom- 

 ises to be the most notable, embracing as it does in its con- 

 struction the best features of the other establishments and 

 omitting their imj^erfections. In size, too, and resources, it 



