62 FISH CULTUKE. 



tinue the operation until all be expressed. By this 

 means the ova does not pass through the air, nor 

 splash against the water ; the manipulator has a 

 firmer grip of the fish, and if the fish slips out of his 

 hands it is not likely to fall and bruise itself. Occa- 

 sionally it may be necessary, with a large fish, for a 

 second person to hold the tail to prevent the splash- 

 ing about of water and ova. 



This plan is a little more difficult perhaps to 

 acquire, than the one first mentioned, but it presents 

 such manifest advantages that it is advisable to adopt 

 it, and a very little practice makes the manipulator 

 perfect in it. I have never seen it described else- 

 where. The male may of course be held as in the 

 former operation, the vent being on or just under 

 the water. 



I have been very minute in describing this process, 

 as I am aware how difficult it is to understand such 

 descriptions without actual manual example. 



After the milt has been applied to the ova, a slight 

 change in the appearance of the egg takes place — for 

 a moment it becomes somewhat opaque. The con- 

 tents appear as though troubled and in commotion. 

 It then clears again, and a sort of inner ring or disc 

 appears, which, doubtless, is the earliest indication of 

 the yolk or embryo. 



