560 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. [8] 
to Northville from Mr. Wires, at North Bass Island, that he had taken 
eggs from six fish October 31. On receipt of this Mr. Bower repaired 
to the islands as quickly as possible, equipped with pails, pans, dippers 
and four of the carrying cases for eggs, arriving November 3. 
As will be seen by referring to the subjoined table, the number of eggs 
secured by Wires and Bower up to November 6 amounted to nearly 
two and one-half millions. They were then conveyed to the hatchery 
by boat and rail in charge of Mr. Bower, leaving the islands at 11 a. 
m. and arriving at Northville 7 p.m. same day. Eggs were in prime 
condition when deposited in the hatching boxes the following morning. 
At 4a.m., November 8, I started for the islands, accompanied by assis- 
tants Bower and Donnelly, arriving at 12m. The results of each day’s 
efforts for the season of procuring the ova at the islands will be found 
in the special table of spawn-taking operations. All eggs were taken 
by what is known as the dry method, wherein impregnation is accom- 
plished by mixing the spermatic fluid undiluted with the eggs before 
water is added. 
Notes and instructions to spawn-takers and those having the care of 
Spawn included the following: 
Take eggs only from ripe fish, 7. e., those yieldin g their eggs by a gen- 
tle pressure of the hand on the anterior of the abdomen, including, of 
course, those from which the eggs are oozing. 
Reject the entire yield of any female when more than 3 to 5 per cent. 
of her eggs are spotted or milk-white when taken ; likewise throw aside 
all females bearing broken eggs. 
Do not try to force all the eggs from each female manipulated, but 
only those which can be extruded by a gentle pressure or stroking of 
the abdomen, each stroke commencing just forward of the pectoral fins 
and extending towards the ventricle, releasing the grasp about midway 
between these two points. This will, however, expel nearly all the eggs 
if the fish is in the proper condition. 
The manipulation of the male is a pinching or stripping process, but 
the female should be neither pinched nor stripped, the process or opera- 
tion consisting of a Slow, gentle, and crowding movement upward and 
forward with the whole hand adaptin g itself to the natural curve of the 
belly. 
Hold the vent of the female as near the bottom of the pan or receiv- 
ing vessel as possible, as the eggs are very soft and tender when first 
taken, and may be injured by dropping. 
Incline the fish to an angle of about 45 degrees ; the eggs will then 
naturally settle towards the orifice and require less pressure for expul- 
sion. The males, however, should not be held in this position, as in 
many instances the vital fluid will not stream directly into the pan, but 
cling to the fish and follow down to the end of the tail, mixing with 
slime and water before dropping, wasting the entire yield of the male 
sometimes, as many will furnish but a few drops, which may not find 
