14 



allow the spermatozoa to come in contact with the eggs. The 

 pan should then be filled full of fresh water, and gently 

 swayed until the water charged with milt is thoroughly 

 mixed with the fresh water, and the eggs slightly rinsed, 

 when soon afterwards the water may he poured nearly oft* 

 and the pan refilled with fresh water, and after a slight and 

 always gentle rinsing up of the eggs, the pan may he allow- 

 ed to stand for several minutes. 



The fact has been referred to that the eggs w^ere not discerni- 

 ble to the touch when put into a pan, nor is there any change 

 in this particular if no milt is added, at any rate for the 

 length of time that the eggs have been observed in this con- 

 dition, a half hour or more. For about twelve or thirteen 

 minutes, when the temperature of the Avater was about 70° after 

 the milt was added no change was observed, but about this time 

 a careful movement of the fingers in the pan discerned their 

 presence, and in a little more than twenty minutes from the 

 time the milt was applied, they were felt like shot against the 

 fingers, and to an experienced eye, were observed to have in- 

 creased slightly in size. This stage of their condition is 

 known to fish breeders as the "spawnrising," referring to the 

 greater bulk in the pan from the increase in size of each egg." 

 "The increase in size and hardness continues for several 

 minutes, during which the water is poured off, and fresh 

 water is poured into the pan two or three times, and the eggs 

 gently stirred with the fingers. In pouring in the water the 

 edge of the dipper is placed against the sides of the pan, and 

 the stream directed between the eggs and the sides of the pan, 

 aa it is likely to damage the eggs if poured directly down 

 upon them. Mr. Green estimates the number of ova taken 

 from an average spawner, at about 20,000 eggs, and rarely 

 estimates above 2S,000 for the most prolific shad. Mr. C. C. 

 Smithy operating for the Connecticut State Commission, esti- 

 mates an average good spawner, at 50,000 ova. We have 

 not made a test of these estimates, and are not prepared to 

 ofi'er an opinion with reference to the disagreement/' 



Wo used wire cloth of twenty-two wires to the inch, instead 

 of twenty, as we found that whereas twenty wires to the inch 

 would confine and protect the shad egg. whi(!h is about one- 



