630 REPORT OP COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. ' [l64] 



first case, the conditions being the same (as to the size of the keg, tlie 

 temperature, &c.), more fish can be put in a keg than in the latter case. 

 In kegs filled icitli waier. — The kegs intended i'or transporting fish 

 should be carefully examined, to see whether they have any rough 

 places or holes where the water might flow out, and should nndergo a 

 thorough cleaning. New kegs should be filled with water and allowed 

 to stand for some time before they are used ; and fish should not be put 

 in them until the smell of the wood has entirely left them, as it is apt 

 to stupefy the fish. For filling the kegs, pond, river, or brook water is 

 used ; they are filled only one-half, whereupon the iish (carj)) are put in 

 carefully one by one, so as to avoid their rubl)iug against the edges of 

 the hole. If the fish are emptied into the kegs from a cloth, they should 

 also be allowed to glide in one by one. If pike are to be transported 

 it will be well to ])ut them in the keg singly, and tail foremost, so as 

 not to run the risk of hurting their tender snout by bumping against 

 the sides of the keg. After the keg has received its quota of fish, 

 an empty space of about 10 centimeters shouhl remain between the 

 bunghole and the water, so as to give a moderate motion to the water, 

 Avhich is necessary, as the gills of the carp when in the keg are apt 

 to be closed u^) by a sticky slime, in consequence of wliich they fall 

 into a death-like slumber, from which they must be roused. When- 

 ever there is a stoppage on the journey, tlie kegs should be shaken, 

 which will also furnish fresh air to the water. The water may also 

 occasionally be stirred carefully with a stick. The water in the keg 

 should always be kept at the same height. The same applies to the 

 transportation of tench, crucians, and eels. If fish with prickly fins, 

 such as i)er('h pike, perch, &c., are to be trans])<)rted, the keg must be 

 entirely filled with water to prevent the fish from hurting each other 

 when thrown about by the rocking motion of the water. Whenever an 

 op])ortunity otters, water must be put into the keg during the journey. 

 After the keg has received its quota of fish, the bung-hole is closed with 

 a wire grate, or a perforated tin lid, or even with a lid made of. wicker- 

 work. Oecasionally the oi)ening is simjdy sto])])ed up with a bunch of 

 straw. This latter method, however, eannot be recommended, as, in 

 order to stick firmly, the bunch of straw must be i^ushed into the keg to 

 the depth of several (centimeters, so that the fish are easily injured, 

 esi)ecially in their scales and eyes, by ])ushing against the sharp points 

 of the straw. A wagon may hold two to three kegs, each coutajining 

 5 or 6 hectoliters of water. The kegs are generally placed on the wagon 

 lengthwise; for long distances, however, this position is not favorable, 

 as the waves (caused by the motion of the wagon) will move in the 

 direction in which the wagon goes, and will, therefore, hurl the fish 

 against the bottom of the keg, so that, if the journey is long, or if the 

 wagon is driven very rapidly, the fish may be killed. Slow driving 

 should, therefore, be the rule, and the kegs should rest on a thick bed 

 of straw to avoid the rocking motion of the water as much as possible. 



