ARTIFICIAL HATCHING OF SPAWN. 59 



than females, for although a small portion of the milt 

 will doubtless fecundate the ova, yet it is very de- 

 sirable that enough should be discharged to permeate 

 the water in the tin dish thoroughly. Indeed, when 

 the water is stirred to mix the milt and ova properly, 

 it should be of a cloudy milky- white. 



Having then discharged the ova into the tin dish 

 and turned the female back into the stream, the ope- 

 rator should take a male fish and press forth the 

 milt on the water, moving the fish round about as he 

 does so in order that the milt may cover as large a 

 portion of the ova as possible. It will flow into the 

 water in a thin, milky stream. If one fish do not 

 furnish enough, he must take another and add a 

 portion of its milt ; when he has enough he should 

 lay the fish aside and gently stir the water and ova 

 with the hand until the whole be thoroughly mixed 

 and every egg may have received its due portion. 

 The tray should stand for a few minutes that the 

 charm may have time to work, and then he must 

 pour off a portion of the discoloured water and pour 

 in gently a fresh supply of pure water from the 

 stream. Then he must pour off a^ portion of this 

 water and add more fresh water, causing as little 

 disturbance of the ova while doing so as possible. 

 This process should be repeated two or three times, 



