618 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [152] 



Fig. 28. 



P: 



ig,Z9. 



10. Sortimi-vans. — These are the most practical apparatus for sorting 

 lish. They have beeu in luse for some time on the Wittingaa pond farm, 

 and from my own expeiience 1 can testify as to their usefulness. 



lu this apparatus the fish lie stretched out full length, and an experi- 

 enced person will be able to sort them 

 without iuucli loss of time. In their 

 shape these vans resemble those which 

 are used for winnowing grain. They 

 are very firmly plaited of willow bauds, 

 and the bottom has numerous openings 

 of a square centimeter each. To pro- 

 tect the bottom thick ropes are drawn below it in the shape of a stai'. 

 These vans measure 70 centimeters in diameter and 20 centimeters in 

 height. Each van is placed between two tubs, its bottom resting on 

 the edges; the fish are placed in them, washed and sorted and put in 

 the tubs. 



11. Wafey-di2)j)frs. — These are small wooden shovels, njado of a single 

 l)iece of wood. The handle is about 70 to 75 centimeters hjng, and the 

 siiovel, somewhat resembling a trough, is 30 centimeters long, L'O centi- 

 meters broad, and 10 centimeters deep in the middle. These di})pers 

 are used for filling the tubs with water; and several men are employed 

 in throwing the water by means 

 of these dippers from ilie fish-pit 

 into the tubs, in which manner 

 they are filled very rai)idly. They 

 are also used for iiouring water on 

 the fish for the purpose of clean- 

 ing them while in the sorting- vans ^^''^^Z.^^^ ,^- ■ i .^ ^^ ^ ^ 



and for occasionally stirring the 



water in the tubs, to keei)the fish in motion, and to further the absorp- 

 tion of oxygen by the water. They also prove useful in many other 

 ways. 



12. Tubs and h<<,sl-ets. — These are used for transporting the fish, if the 

 fish-pit is not near the dike; and also if there are holes in the bottom 

 of the pond, as is tivxpiently the case in large ponds, which makes the 

 distance to the tubs too great to carry the fish in purse-nets. If the 

 lish are to be taken to ponds or winter i)()uds which are close at hand, 

 kegs may be dispensed with, and baskets or tubs used instead. Both 

 baskets and tubs are oval-shaped, the former of coarse wicker-work, 

 and the hitter of pine wood. Special care should be taken that no sharp 

 poiuts project on the inside of these baskets. These baskets and tubs 

 are of difierent size. The most suitable dimensions are 70 centimeters 

 in length, 40 in breadth, and oO to40 in height. The tubs for transport- 

 ing single fish, c. //.. ])erch-pike, resemble in shape and size the small 

 bath tubs used for washing babies. On some pond farms they are used 

 instead of tubs and baskets. 



