318 THE YEAR-BOOK OF AGRICULTURE. 



among which was the loss of the first shipment, we succeeded in getting down three lots, in 

 all about one hundred and fifty, in fine condition, and lodged them safely in their new home, 

 where they seemed as happy and as sportive as they were in the beautiful blue waters of 

 Lake Superior. In the month of September, I made a trip to Port Stanley, Canada, for 

 another lot, and succeeded in getting home about forty mere specimens, constituting, certainly, 

 a very fair beginning to our enterprise. We did not, however, expect to rear any young 

 fishes this season, for we supposed the transportation, &c. would prevent thenf from depositing 

 their eggs; but in this we were most agreeably disappointed, for, on the 15th of November, 

 we discovered unmistakable evidences that they were about to engage in this interesting pro- 

 cess. Several male trout had proceeded up the stream, and commenced preparing the beds 

 in which the eggs were to be deposited. This was done by removing all the sediment and 

 sand from certain gravelly locations. These beds were about one foot in diameter, consisting 

 of coarse and fine pebbles, the spaces or interstices between which were to be the future 

 depository for the eggs. This peculiar construction of their beds, or nests, is highly essential 

 to their preservation, as it protects them from being washed away by freshets, also from 

 being devoured by small fishes, which are always prowling about seeking them for food. The 

 male trout at this time was very beautiful, being decked out in the most gaudy colors imagina- 

 ble, and his actions showed clearly enough that he was quite vain of his personal appear- 

 ance. In the course of five days, the females made their appearance. They were not near 

 so gaudy in their dress ; but had a most staid and matronly look. The next step was choosing 

 their mates. After the usual amount of flattering attentions to the females, with which they 

 seemed highly delighted, and some battles among the males, this important matter was settled, 

 apparently to the satisfaction of all parties. t Our trout were from four to six weeks later 

 than their usual time in depositing their eggs, owing, no doubt, to the vicissitudes incident 

 to transportation, change of water, &c. 



On the 20th of November they had fairly commenced operations, one pair offish occupying 

 each bed the male manifesting the utmost jealousy, and, if any suspicious interloper ap- 

 proached, he was instantaneously attacked and driven off. On the 21st, I captured a pair by 

 means of a landing-net, and placed them in a bucket of water, and, being provided with an 

 earthen vessel, I made my first attempt at artificially spawning and impregnating the eggs. 

 This was accomplished as follows : I partially filled the earthen vessel with water, and, taking 

 the female in my left hand, and making gentle pressure on her abdomen with my right, the 

 eggs were forced into the earthen vessel containing the water ; the male was treated in pre- 

 cisely the same manner, forcing the spermatic fluid into the same vessel ; the nppearance of 

 the eggs was almost immediately changed from their bright golden-orange color to a pale 

 transparent yellow ; they were then placed in running water with the vessel containing them. 

 On the 9th of January, one of the eggs was placed under a microscope. The egg, which at 

 first had been a simple cell, was now multiplied into a countless number of cells, of diflFerent 

 sizes, with traces of blood-vessels ; the eyes also being perceptible. On the 22d of January, 

 we examined them again, and to our joy we found a young fish, which had just left its nar- 

 row place of confinement to try its new mode of existence ; it was very lively in its motions, 

 but could not be considered an expert swimmer, owing to an appendage to its abdomen, of 

 nearly the size of the egg, which in fact it was, containing the material for the further 

 development of the yet very imperfect fish ; this sack was filled with a multitude of minute 

 cells, whose absorption keeps pace with the development of the fish. When the young fish 

 leaves its egg, it measures about half an inch in length ; neither the month, gills, nor any of 

 the abdominal viscera are visible, all of which would be plainly discerned with the micro- 

 scope, if they existed, owing to its almost perfect transparency. The heart, with the prin- 

 cipal blood-vessels, and even the corpuscles of blood, are beautifully shown with a microscope 

 of moderate power. Their external appearance is remarkable. The eyes, are large and 

 quite well developed ; the pectoral fins are also in an advanced stage of development, and in 

 constant and rapid motion, which, I think, in the more advanced stage of the fish, has some- 

 thing to do with its respiration, as they are placed near the opening of the gill-covers. The 

 other portions of the fish are quite rudimentary, no other fins being perceptible ; but in their 

 place is an attenuated margin, or finlike substance, as on the tail of the tadpole, commencing 



