Fish Culturists' Association. 33 



of eggs which she carries in her body, when she is set free and at liberty 

 in the river ; in the other, days and weelfs, sometimes, are occupied in 

 the prostrating effects of laying the eggs. 



It will appear equall}' clear that everj- egg put in the pan or vessel 

 must necessaril}' come in contact with some portion of the vitalizing fluid 

 of the male, and become impregnated, whilst great numbers that are laid 

 in the streams by the female, without the presence of the male, are 

 wholl}^ lost. Neither will there be found in the artificial beds hoards of 

 predacious fish, waiting eagerly to devour the eggs as the}' are dropped ; 

 nor will trout, parrs, chubs, or eels be found there, seeking which ma}' 

 get the lion's share ; and aquatic birds cannot gratify their appetizing 

 desire for fresh eggs within the precincts of the breeding room. Again, 

 the ova are not subjected to injurious bruising and crushing from stones 

 and gravel falling upon them in the act of being laid in the rough bot- 

 toms of streams. This danger is avoided in the artificial breeding beds, 

 where neither stones or gravel are used or permitted, the eggs being 

 placed upon smooth perforated zinc or wire, or glass tra}s in single 

 layers, and not in clusters. 



During the six months in which the eggs are undergoing the process 

 of hatching, no insects, water beetles, bugs, or aquatic animals con- 

 stantly on the alert for food in the gravel beds of rivers, can possibly 

 attack or perforate the fish eggs in their snug and well protected beds in 

 the artificial breeding room. Clusters of dead ova, spreading their insid- 

 ious fungoid growth to every adjoining egg, are not permitted here, for 

 when the ova presents the white opaque color of death it is immediately 

 picked out and cast away by the person in charge, and all fungoid 

 growth thereby stopped. 



The baneful eflfects of all kinds of sediment and of deleterious sub- 

 stances from mills, manufactories, manures, etc., are all regularly and 

 systematically cleaned from the eggs when resting upon them ; neither 

 anchor ice, nor ice floes, nor freshets, destroy or sweep them away when 

 thus properly cared for. Here, from the fostering care and protection 

 afforded them, a vastly greater number of eggs produce living fish. 

 Well may it be said, that "from the cradle to the grave, the salmon has 

 but one constant succession of remorseless enemies," and "that not 

 exceeding one per cent, of the ova laid in the natural way ever produces 

 a living animal." Contrast these statements with the artificial system, 

 and the gratifying result is an increase of at least seventy-five per cent., 

 and even this average is overcome at the present time at the several 

 Canadian and American fish breeding establishments, where, at their 

 commencement a few years ago, only thirty and forty per cent, were 

 obtained ; but now, from the close application and well devised exp^ri- 



3 



