Fish Culturists' Association. 17 



designate the animated filaments of the spermatic fluid, and which 

 has led some writers to attribute to them an independent animal 

 nature. This is, however, a very erroneous mode of regarding them, 

 since they cannot properly be considered as animals, notwithstanding 

 the active character of their movement, and the striking resemblance 

 which it sometimes presents to a voluntary act. The spermatozoa 

 are organic, which are produced in the testicles and constitute a part 

 of their tissue, just as the eggs which are produced in the ovaries 

 naturally form a part of tlie texture of these organs; like the egg, 

 also, the spermatozoon is destined to be discharged from the organ 

 where it grew, and to retain for a certain length of time its vital 

 properties. One of the most peculiar of its properties is its power 

 of keeping in constant motion, which does not, however, mark it as 

 a distinct animal, but only distinguishes it as a peculiar structure 

 belonging to a parent organism. The motion of a spermatozoon is 

 precisely analogous to that of a ciliated epithelium cell. The move- 

 ment of the latter will continue for some hours after it has been 

 separated from its mucous membrane, provided its texture be not 

 injured nor the process of decomposition allowed to commence. In 

 the same manner the movement of the spermatozoon is a characteris- 

 tic properly belonging to them, which continues for a certain time, 

 even after they have been separated from all connection with the 

 body." 



This, you see, is a direct refutation of the "living organism" 

 theory, and I would very much like to have the opinion of the asso- 

 ciation upon the subject. 



HoNEOTE Falls, N. Y. 



FISH CULTURE ABROAD. 



By George Shepard Page. 



You are all doubtless familiar with the fact that for many centu- 

 ries that wonderfully ingenious people, with whom we are becoming 

 somewhat familiar in these times of dear labor, the Chinese, have 

 extensively pursued the science of fish culture, indeed making it one 

 of the chief industries of several of the principal provinces. They 

 economize the imtnense rice-fields at the season when they are cov- 

 ered with water, thus obtaining a double harvest. The species of 

 fish cultivated are probably the carp, as the eggs are deposited on 



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