24 U. S. BUBEAU OF FISHERIES. 



Brook-trout eggs are in condition to bear transportation as soon 

 as the eyes of the embryo are visible. Before packing the eggs for 

 shipment they are thoroughly washed. This is accomplished by 

 removing them from the trays to a tub of water and introducing a 

 stream of water among them with sufficient force to slightly agitate 

 them for several minutes. This treatment not only removes all 

 sediment from the eggs, but it causes all infertile eggs to change 

 color, thereby facilitating their removal. Unless this is done a con- 

 siclerable number of infertile eggs is likely to be included in the 

 shipment, as such eggs will frequently retain the color and general 

 appearance of good eggs for a long period. The same results may 

 be attained by passing a feather brush among them. After washing, 

 the eggs are again placed in a tub of water, the temperature of which 

 is very gradually reduced several degrees. 



The bottom of an egg box is covered to a depth of one-half inch 

 with sphagnum moss freshly wrung from ice water. A mosquito 

 netting large enough to fold in from the sides and ends, entirely cov- 

 ering the eggs, is laid over the moss. The water is drained from the 

 eggs and the required number j)laced in the box. In folding the 

 netting over them it is drawn in a little from the sides and ends of 

 the box and a thin layer of moss is tucked around to prevent tin? 

 eggs from coming in contact with the wood. The box is next filled 

 with moss, so that when closed by the cover the eggs will be retained 

 in place should the case receive rough handling en route. If more 

 than one box is used they are stacked and cleated one above another 

 and only one cover is used, the bottoms of the upper boxes forming 

 the covers of the ones below. Dry moss to a depth of 4 inches is 

 placed on the bottom of the outer case, the stack of egg boxes in- 

 stalled, and the remaining spaces tamped tightly with dry moss to 

 keep the stack in place and to provide the necessary insulation against 

 temperature changes. For short distances no ice is necessary, pro- 

 vided the eggs, moss, and netting used in the inner boxes are near 

 the freezing point when the packing is done. If the weather will 

 permit, the egg boxes may advantageously be left in a freezing tem- 

 perature until the moss stiffens slightly before placing them in the 

 outer case or a quantity of snow or grated ice may be sprinkled over 

 them. In most instances an ice hopper is desirable, and this is made 

 to occupy the 4-inch space immediately over the egg boxes, forming 

 the cover of the upper box of eggs. Where ice in any form is used 

 in the package ample drainage through the bottom of the box must 

 be provided. 



Brook-trout eggs have been shipped successfully to many foreign 

 countries. For shipments of this nature, where the eggs will be in 

 transit for an unusually long period and will require replenishing 

 of the ice chambers and possibly the removal of dead eggs, a more 

 elaborate case is necessary. A so-called refrigerator case has been 

 used with good results in making foreign shipments.*' A case simi 

 lar to this in some respects but more compact and of less weight has 

 recently been designed by G. C. Leach, assistant in charge of the 

 division of fish culture. United States Bureau of Fisheries, and has 

 been successfully used in European shipments. Figure 17, page 53. 



» Artificial Propagation of the Salmons of the Pacific Coast. By Henry O'Malley. Ap- 

 pendix II to the Report of the U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries for 1919. Bureau of 

 Fisheries Document No. 879, pp. 26-28. 



