45 



skin and retained a thin one. These were always eggs that 

 had received a high temperature some time in transit, and 

 the embryos only hatched to die. 



To the journal named I wrote the following for its issue 

 of April 3rd, 1890 : " In consequence of an unguarded ex- 

 pression I have been compelled to write a treatise on iish- 

 eggs in order to save myself from appearing to be unfair to 

 the fish culturists of Europe, and also to explain why the 

 eggs of brown trout sent by the Fishing Gazette, of Lon- 

 don, to Shooting and Fishing, in my charge, were not 

 reported to be in as good condition as they looked to be 

 when opened. When I receive eggs from Europe that look 

 good, a doubt about their history in transit arises, and 

 I have learned to be careful in reporting their condition, 

 unless such as may have turned white. When they hatch 

 we can judge of chances of life. I can now say that the 

 eggs sent by Mr. R. B. Marston, from the hatchery of 

 William T. Andrews, of Guilford, England, have produced 

 a fine lot of fish. Of the original 10,000 we found about 

 1,000 dead — notes not handy, and can't be exact — and sent, 

 as per your order, 3,000 to Mr. Peter Cooper Hewitt, Ring- 

 wood, N. J. The remainder will produce fully 5,500 

 strong fish up to the feeding point." 



Deformed fish seldom live, and those which spin round 

 and round never do. These deformities are the result of 

 injury to the egg, and cannot be detected until the shell is 

 broken ; hence I will be careful in future in reporting that 

 eggs are really good after coming across the sea, because 

 my superior officers naturally expect a certain number of 

 good fry from each thousand reported good eggs. 



Cold Speing Harboe, N. Y., May 1st, 1890. 



