34 



globule. The strain, therefore, comes on that part of the 

 protoplasmic investment of the yolk which covers the oil- 

 slobule, and here it bursts. In almost every case the white 

 spot which indicates the rupture of the yolk investment 

 makes its appearance at the oil-globule, usually at its 

 equator. 



Owing to the fact that the eggs are adhesive, it is the 

 practice of th(^ men in taking them to stir the eggs with 

 the hand. By this means they detach the eggs that have 

 adhered to the sides of the pail, and separate from one 

 another those that have adhered together in bunches. 

 This stirring takes place shortly aftei' the eggs are placed 

 in the pail and before they have lilled with water. In this 

 condition the space between the membranes and yolk is 

 either absent or it is so small that it forms rather an aid 

 than a hinderance to the bursting of the yolk investment. 



It is therefore desirable to find some means of handling 

 the eggs so they will not adhere to the vessel in which they 

 are placed, and so they will not adhere to one another to 

 such an extent as to render it necessary to separate them 

 by the hand. 



As to the lirst jioint, the men handling the eggs have 

 found that they do not adhere to an ordinary unpainted 

 wooden j)ail which by use has become rough inside, while 

 they do adhere to the galvanized iron pails now in use. I 

 have observed that while the eggs adhere strongly to glass, 

 they adhere but slightly to cloth, I have no doubt that 

 by the substitution of wooden pails for metal this difficulty 

 will be overcome. 



It is likely that a metal surface might be oiled or other- 

 wise so prepared as to prevent the adhering of the eggs. 



With regard to the second point, it has been found that 

 if water be added to the eggs oery slowly^ while at the 

 same time they are kept in motion by rocking the con- 

 taining vessel, they do not then adhere to one another. 

 This is true whether or not milt be mixed with the water. 



