How to obtain it. 113 



understood, and on most of the main lines I have usually met 

 with the greatest courtesy, and had every reasonable assistance 

 willingly rendered. The railway companies know their work, and 

 as a rule do it, and their revenue is considerably increased by the 

 live fish traffic, and will be much more so in the near future. 



Fry travel better in glass carriers (carboys) than in any other 

 apparatus yet discovered. I used them successfully many years 

 ago, and travelled fish in them safely to and from America. Then 

 metal carriers were strongly recommended by some fish culturists, 

 and I tried them, but soon went back to the glass bottles, and my 

 verdict to-day is that nothing has been found to beat them ; 

 indeed, I have yet to see the carrier that will equal them for 

 convenience, cleanliness, evenness of temperature, lightness, and 

 durability. There is, indeed, nothing I know of that will 

 favourably compare with them when properly constructed. I have 

 them made to order, and they are so shaped that when filled to 

 the proper level the angle of the water with the glass is such as to 

 cause a continual and gentle splashing of the surface water only, 

 during transit. The water in splashing is thrown against a canvas 

 cover, and from this falls back again, and the slight vacuum which 

 is caused is at once filled with fresh air drawn from outside, and so 

 the work goes on, forming a self-aerating machine that is unfailing 

 in its work as long as the train or cart is in motion. The splashing 

 itself is confined entirely to the surface of the water, but the 

 motion generated, owing to the shape of the interior, which has 

 been carefully studied, sets up a rotary motion, and produces a 

 perpetual current in which the fry enjoy life as in a brook, 

 probably knowing little difference. I have travelled millions of 

 fry in these vessels long distances, both by sea and land, and some- 

 times under very trying circumstances, yet with perfect success. 



Never under any circumstances should they be filled with 

 water. It absolutely prevents any jar or splashing, and may 

 prove fatal to the fish. Only once have I known such a thing to 

 be done, and that was when I was once transferring yearlings 

 a distance of about five miles, and used carboys for the work 

 with perfect success, with the exception of one load, and in 

 this case a booby of a carter, under the impression that he was 

 giving the fish plenty of water, filled the bottles brim full, with the 

 I . 



