146 How to obtain it. 



but "practice makes perfect," and the writer has spawned and 

 impregnated the ova from a hundred and forty trout in the 

 comparatively short space of about an hour. This, taking into 

 account the changing of the dishes, and other little delays, is 

 pretty quick work, yet the whole is done without any hurry or 

 excitement ; indeed, nothing is more undesirable than to perform 

 the work too hurriedly, although, at the same time, expedition is 

 of vital importance. 



Having spawned a number of females into one dish, a batch 

 of males is handed in a net by an attendant, and a couple of good 

 milters taken, which is quite sufficient. These are somewhat 

 similarly treated, the milt being expelled upon the eggs, and both 

 eggs and milt are gently mixed by an undulating motion of the 

 dish, aided slightly by the hand. Water is then added, and the 

 mixing process is repeated, and the dish allowed to stand until the 

 eggs have separated. At first they cling together, adhering not 

 only to each other but to the dish itself, sometimes for a few 

 minutes and occasionally for an hour or more, according to the 

 temperature. On separating they must be well and carefully 

 washed until all effete milt is cleared away. They are then placed 

 upon the grilles in the hatching boxes, a number sufficient to fill 

 each grille being poured out of a measure, which holds just the 

 right quantity. They are poured from the measure so as to form 

 several little heaps on each grille, and these heaps are roughly 

 spread by means of a feather, care being taken that it does not 

 touch the ova. The grille is then raised slightly, both hands 

 being used in the operation. Then, by means of a slight shake, 

 giving the grille a motion soon acquired by practice, the eggs are 

 made to arrange themselves in rows very prettily, and they can be 

 accurately and quickly counted. 



In the old days there was often a difficulty in getting milters, 

 and even to the present time collectors of ova from wild fish have 

 often to be content with such milters as they can get. It will be 

 seen what a great advantage it is to have a large number of well- 

 'bred and selected male fish in a pond by themselves, so that a 

 haul of the net brings to bank several hundreds of them. Out of 

 this number the best fish can be selected and sent up to the 

 spawning house, where operations are being carried on. From a 



