How 'to obtain it. 1^3 



very Handy. Should it be found desirable to have something 

 larger get one made like Fig. 9. A hook can be placed in the 

 loop with which it is furnished, to lift it from the fire and drag it 

 along by when being used. 



For charring the grooves Fig. 10 will be found very useful, 

 and for the plug holes I use an iron shown by Fig. 1 1 . The 

 object of charring the wood is to prevent the growth of a fungus 

 (Saprolegnia) that is very deadly amongst ova and fish. It grows 

 vigorously on wood, but will not grow on carbon. By thoroughly 

 carbonizing the apparatus, therefore, a great danger is to a 

 considerable extent averted. The process should be carried out 

 by a steady-handed careful man, as the wood requires to be very 

 evenly burnt. The carbon wears off in time, and each season I 

 give my boxes a coat of black varnish, and sometimes two. Some 

 fish culturists repeat the carbonizing process each season, but the 

 varnish- is by far the most economical, and answers quite as well 

 after the former has been once clbne. 



In the charring the heat opens the seams of the boxes, and at 

 times causes the wood to crack, and it certainly has a tendency to 

 make the joints leaky. The varnish has just the contrary effect : 

 it fills up small crevices, and tends to make the boxes watertight, 

 which is a great advantage. I got mirie first from the United 

 States, where it is largely used, but have since found out a way of 

 making a varnish which answers admirably. There are many 

 varnishes in the market which will do, but as the use of some of 

 them is at times attended with danger, I shall be glad to supply 

 anyone with that used at the Solway Fishery, which I have found 

 to be perfectly safe. 



At the head of each hatching box a board is fixed in a 

 slanting position to act as a breakwater. About an inch of space 

 is left underneath' it, and the 'water is- thus directed under the 

 grilles, which should be about one and a half inches above the 

 bottom of the box. Slates do very well instead of boards, and it 

 will be found very desirable to have a pile of them at hand for 

 this and 'similar purposes. They are easily worked to any size or 

 shape, and are very 'useful about a hatchery. They are clean, and 

 give off nothing',' arid need ^neither charring nor varnishing. A 

 number "of smart 'water boards will be required for placing mttie 



