392 GLASS CATCHEES TO BJiKDUE EGGS. 



The fish must be caught in a proper net, the eggs 

 taken from them and manipulated, the fish themselTes 

 being returned nninjnred to the -water. All this re- 

 quires sldll, and aboxe all, if yon do it yonrself — and if 

 Ton want it done properly you mtst do it yourself 

 — a knowledge of the habits of the fish, and con- 

 siderable strength to manage the wret nets, as ■well as 

 power to endure very great cold when wading in the 

 water, and operating on the fish. I hare frequently 

 taken eggs when the weather has been so cold that 

 the nets have become stiff as wire fireguards. 



All these difficulties are now obviated by the fact that 

 those who wish to breed youn^ salmonidse can obtain e^^s 

 all ready for hatching out from the various dealers ia 

 eggs, a Hst of whom is given at the end of this chapter. 



Many failures and many experiments have now taught 

 us the proper time at which it is safe to move the eggs, 

 and has also shown the proper mode of packing them 

 BO they will travel safely. 



When a consignment of eggs is first received from 

 the dealer, the bottles or ba^s in which the e^^s have 

 been packed should be placed in cold water and the 

 moss cleaned away from them, the eggs will sink to 

 the bottom while the moss will float Thev should 



Mr 



then be carefullv removed to the trou^rhB bv mean? of a 



glass catcher.''' 



* A '' catcher " consLsts of a portion of glass tube about nine 

 incbes long, sligbtlr ctirred in the middle. 

 To "OBe the catcher propedy, tou must 



(1) apply the thumb to the one end, \rhile the other end is 

 placed opposite the eggs you ■wish to catch. 



(2) Bemoxe the thumb, and the eggs will instantly run up into 

 the catcher. 



(3) Place the thumb on the end of the catcher again. If thiK is 

 properly performed, the eggs "vnll be found in the catcher, and can 

 then be transferred to the troughs. 



