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but few exceptions it is normally restricted to cold and tem- 
perate climates, while the time of breeding in fresh waters is 
during the coldest season of the year. And opinions have 
been expressed that these eggs may be frozen and the embryo 
still survive. 
On the other hand exceedingly strong evidence has been 
adduced tending to prove that freezing these eggs destroys 
their vitality, and I have for some seasons been desirous of 
testing this question, and in a similar manner to what might 
be expected were natural redds to become frozen during periods 
of intense and long continued frosts. For at such times rivers 
near their sources, and even lower down, diminish in size con- 
sequent upon their affluents becoming more or less frozen up, 
and by which redds may be laid bare. The principal subject 
of enquiry being whether freezing would be likely to prove 
fatal to the entire lot of eggs, or merely to some.: Also if the 
duration and intensity of the frost are likewise factors that 
have to be taken into consideration ? 
Circumstances occurred which quite accidentally gave me 
the opportunity which I had desired of testing this question on 
a large scale, for purposely sacrificing such a supply of eggs as 
were sent me would be a proceeding that could hardly be 
expected. Weare all aware the winter of 1885 was a severe 
one, and that during the month of December frost was intense, 
consequently transmitting eggs by rail in water would 
assuredly entail some being frozen. However, I asked Sir 
James Maitland to be so good as to send me a few to 
experiment upon, and as a result I was furnished with the 
following abundant supply. 
At mid-day on December 11th, 1885, I received at Chelten- 
ham a tin swing-can and stand from Howietoun, containing 
about 10,000 eggs, taken at an early hour and despatched at 
1.10 p.m. the previous day, and which, consequently, had not 
been above 29 hours from the parent fish. The lid was tightly 
frozen down, the air holes were stopped by ice, but after the » 
ean had stood 1} hours in the fish house, the top had become 
sufficiently thawed to enable it to be opened. No ice was 
