246 PROPAGATIOX OF FISH. 
sisted in. The only entire failure I ever heard of was 
effected in this manner, a friend succeeding in killing 
several fish without raising one. 
Where there can be made a convenient stew-pond, 
with a gravelly head-water or springy sides, there is no 
difficulty, as tlie fish may be taken at any time, and may 
be kept here till the proper season arrives. But it is 
said, though on questionable authority, if there are no 
appropriate spawning-beds at hand, the nature of the fish 
changes, and they either delay or cease spawning altoge- 
ther. The roe is incased in a skin, the rupture of whicli 
will produce death till the time of maturity, when it is 
absorbed and the eggs lie free in the abdomen and can 
be readily extruded. 
The female is taken in the hand when ready — and 
observe that fish as well as other animals will be gentle 
in proportion as they are handled gently — the abdomen 
is pressed carefully with the other hand, the eggs are 
forced out and allowed to fall into a basin or pail of pure 
fresh spring water. "When all tJie spawn is deposited, it 
is as well to agitate it with a feather, and, if there is 
extraneous matter, to pour ofiT and renew the water. 
The male fish is then taken and treated in the same way, 
the milt being allowed to fall into the same basin and 
brought into thorough contact with the eggs by the use 
of the feather again. The milt of one male will answer 
for the spawn of several females, and it is said that the 
milt will be renewed in the male in the course of a few 
days ; but this, not corresponding at all wth the female, is 
at least doubtful. The reason of the superabundance of 
milt over the roe is a simple provision of nature to make 
