On Breeding of Fish, &c. 269 



vasv with ils spawn, wilhoiu any prejudice to the fish, into 

 a bason of clear water; then take a male fish and rub and 

 press its Ijellv gently in the same manner, to let the milt 

 or soft roc out in the same bason where you have received 

 before the female roe in ; and then siir them together. It 

 will be the same thing if we take a male and female fish 

 and cut out the roe and milt and mix the^Ti up in the water, 

 and it will do just as well as if both fishes were alive. Carry 

 then this bason wltl\ the mixed spawn to the trough, before 

 the water is let in; sprinkle it very thin upon the coarse 

 crravel : then convey the water from the spring into the 

 trough throuch the holes in the covering; and nothing is 

 further to be observed at this time, than that the water mav 

 have its constant current through the wires, and that these 

 wires mav be kept clean from filth : the third or fourth day 

 after, open the trough to inspect vihethcr the spawn is not 

 covered v\ith slime or nastiness ; in which case move with 

 a flat hand the upper part of the water horizontally, and 

 tolerablv brisklv ; which motion will clean the spawn from 

 biinie, and at the same time turn the eggs. ■ 



In this manner docs this ingenious gentleman breed 

 annually vast quantities of trout ; and he has observed, that 

 as soon as the fish is out of its egg, it has on ils belly a 

 bladder, from which it receives its iirst nourishment, and 

 which becomes every day less, til! it vanishes at last; and s<» 

 lonsr as this bladder appears, he sufiers the young ones to 

 reiiiain in the troui'.h ; afterwards he lets thsm out into the 

 ))ond to seek for food for themselves. He has proceeded 

 in the same manner with salmon, and with the same good 

 fcuccess. 



Extract from the Hanover Magazbte, No. 4, January 1-2, 



1765. 

 An Answer to a Question in No. 48 of the Hanover Maga- 

 zine, 1764, concerning the Spawning of Fish. 

 To answer part of the question, I shall impart my obser- 

 vations, which I have made for a long time past, and such 

 as I have lately nufle. ( shall confine myself only to such 

 tish as are found in ponds and rivulets in this country. 

 After many vears experience, I have f)und that ihcspawu- 

 in<>- of fiihes'difiers every year ; partly owing to the influence 

 of the weather, or to the beds in which tlicy spawn ; some 

 require hard and stony, others soft and slimy, others bushy 

 boiioms, and some, herbs and grass. Tlie trouis will not 

 spawn but in a slony and gravelly bottom, althougli others 

 i"re<)ucntly creep under routs of trees, and in hollows near 



the 



