10 Report of the American 



think, but the extreme modesty of that gentleman can account for the 

 fact that he lias kept so useful an invention to himself for four years, 

 without patent or herald to proclaim its excellence. It is a simple 

 frame made of inch stuff, about eighteen inches square, and lined with a 

 wire cloth bottom of eight meshes to the inch. It just fits into the 

 ordinary hatching trough, and is kept up a half inch from the bottom 

 by a nail at each corner. This tray is coated with parafline varnish, 

 which makes it proof against all fungus growth. It is very cheap, 

 very simple and the best thing we have ever tried for hatching eggs. 

 One of these trays will hold two or three thousand eggs. They do 

 not get dirty nearly so soon as when resting upon gravel, and, when 

 it is necessary to clean them, the tray is lifted from its place, put 

 under a fine hose and effectually cleaned in a minute or two. The 

 saving of labor is immense. Then it is one of the most convenient 

 vessels j^et discovered for packing eggs in moss for transportation. 

 At least 2,000 can be packed in one of them, and twenty-four of the 

 trays can go in one box, very convenient for handling. A large 

 number of the eggs moved from Maine to the hatching-house at 

 Poquonnoc, Ct, came in these trays, and bore transportation quite 

 as well as those coming in smaller packages. These trays are used 

 at Bucksport, Me., by Mr. Atkins, and at Poquonnoc, and have given 

 great satisfaction. They will unquestionably banish gravel from all 

 well appointed hatching-houses, and supersede Costie's boxes and 

 other glass grilles and charcoal boxes for preventing fungus. It can- 

 not fail to largely increase the profits of the fish breeder. 



On the whole, we have great occasion for congratulation as we 

 review the substantial progress made during the year 1872. 



Quite a large number of gentlemen have joined the association, 

 whom we are happy to welcome to our deliberations to-day. 



NATURAL vs. ARTIFICIAL SPAWNING AS PRACTICED 

 IN THE CULTURE OF BROOK TROUT. 



By Fred Mather. 



Mr. President and Gentlemen of the American Fish Culttirists' 

 Association.— ^x\qWvc\^ as I do that most if not all of the members 

 of this association practice taking the spawn of trout and other fish 

 by hand, because they find it most convenient and profitable, it is 

 not ray intention to offer theTn any advice on a subject which is so 



