328 On Breedhig of Fish, and the 



As a single drop of sperm contains vast numbers of ani- 

 malcLiles, sufficient to animate a hundred Ciigs, and as the 

 water is loaded at this time with the sperm, it is no wonder 

 that almost every ecrg becomes a fish. Every egg or spawn in 

 the female comes to its perfection and ripeness on the same 

 day ; but it is not so with the sperm of the male, for the 

 white roe lies like a solid substance, divided in two paits in 

 its body close to the b:tck, and grows gradually liquid, and 

 dissolves itself into a creamy fluid, beginning at the lower 

 part, and discharges about the sixth part of each division 

 every day ; so that within eight days all the sperm becomes 

 liquid and runs oif. 



§TV. 

 {\) To breed young Trout.— Take full-sized trouls out 

 of the rivulets in December and January, when they gather 

 together to spawn: as in some rivulets their spawn becomes 

 later ripe, you may, in the latter end of Jai'.uary, let part 

 of the water drain off, by stemming the water above, that 

 vou may take as many out as you want. It after gently 

 stroking their bellies with the fingers some spawn or sperm 

 coes ofi", it is a siau that both are ripe, and those must be 

 put into a large pail or tub for use, 



(2) Then lake a wooden, earthen, or copper bowl, put 

 into it a pint, quart, or more of clear water ; take out of 

 your pail one fish after another, stroke it with the hands or 

 fingers hard downwards, till the spavvfn discharges into the 

 bowl ; you need not fear it will hurt them, for they can, 

 without danger to them, bear great pressing : then rub the 

 belly of the male trout in the same manner, till some of 

 its milt discharges into the water (a little is sufficient), 

 then stir the whole with your hands so as to mix it well, 

 and all the eggs or spawn will be impregnated ; then put in 

 more clear water to disperse them more asunder: after the 

 eggs are impregnated with the sperm, the) are apt to clog 

 together, which hurts them in the end ; it is therefore 

 necessary to thin them with more water, and to sprinkle 

 them into the breeding-trough § I. (4). 



A small space will receive a great quantity of spawn, yet 

 they must not lie too thick ; otherwise when they touch 

 each other too much, they will get in a few days into 

 putrefactioil, and appear as if a fine downy wool wa:^ spread 

 over them ; and so long as they remain in this state they 

 are unfit. To prevent this, take a thin slice of wood, or a 

 paddle, about the breadth of a hand, and paddle with it 

 backwards and forwards, on the spot where the spawn lies 

 too thickj to spread bv this motion the spawn asunder. 



(3) It 



