difficult cases. Besides these, there are in Germany also several smaller Institutes of 

 Fishery and also fishery biolooists v/ho for their part cooperate activel;- with the above 

 named central institutes in the field of fish patholo,p;y. It is quite useless to consult 

 with chemists, drurgists, veterinarians, etc., or to turn to food testing laboratories, 

 agricultural stations, bacteriological ijistitutt-s, hygienic institutes, etc. 



Health controls, which can be undertaken in the autumn fishing out, spring fishing 

 out, in the fishing out of the brood ponds or also on net sample catches (partly on 

 location, partly on sent-in material), often malce early prophj/'lactic measures possible. 

 They also promote a well tLmed cooperation between pond managers and fish pathologists, 

 wi-iich will be verj-- useful to both the investigator and to the pcnd manager in case 

 diseases occur. I have compiled the follov/ing instructions to sei-ve as a guide for 

 sending in samples for the Investigation of Fish Diseases by the Pi-ussian National 

 Institute for Fishery. 



It is requested, in the shipping of fishes for investigation for diseases or for 

 health control, to observe the following: 



(1) The live shipment is mostly alwaj's to be recocimended, since many diseases 

 can only be determined on living fishes. Fishes to be examined had best 

 be shipped in fish cans of about 10 liters (2.6 gal.) capacity (milk cans, 

 marmalade buckets, pouring cans) and according to their size, the distance 

 of location, and v;eather conditions in numbers of two to ten fishes. 

 Fishes which are distinctly sick but capable of living for some time 

 should be sent in. 



(2) Dead fishes should be shipped only if live shipment is impossible or 

 distinctly visible evidences of disease make live shipment superfluous. 

 Dead fishes must not be packed in fresh plants (grass, nettles, weeds), 

 but should be wrapped sin3ly in parchment or wax paper and placed in 

 excelsior or in paper cuttings. In the hot season the addition of ice 

 in a tight closing metal box or on sav/dust is verj' desirable. Only 

 living fresh, not yet p\itrefied fishes can be examined. Formalin pre- 

 servation (1 part formalin to 9 parts water) should be done only in 

 exceptional cases upon request. 



(3) Every shipment must be accompanied by a report as detailed as possible 

 on the observed disease manifestations and the course of the disease, 

 also about the local conditions, or such a report should preferably be 

 sent in advance. Only then can purposeful advice be given, 



(^) If a water pollution msTf have been acting together vdth a fish disease, 

 a sample of v.-ater should be taken at the location of death of the fish, 

 placed in a clean bottle and sent along with the fish (see Chapter 1,^,4), 



(5) All shipments should be b;.-- shortest route, preferably by express or by 

 special messengers. If possible, packages shoulrf be shipped on fast 

 night trains. Shipments must not arrive unannounced on Saturday noons 

 or Sundays, 



(o) n'ith larger fish mortality, local investigations are recommended, and 

 are undertaken by agreement. The investigation fee is in accordance 

 with the existing extent of the investigation. The minimum fee is 3 

 marks (C0.71), unless a public interest is involved, 



Prussian National Institute for Fishery, Division of Fish Diseases, Berlin- Fried- 

 richshagen, Mtlggelseedamm 310, Postal and ftailroad Station Friedrichshagen at Berlin, 



195 



