How to obtain it. 153 



from which it is soon removed unhurt. But the novice is as 

 likely to send it into the spawning dish as anywhere, and a few 

 struggles there will send the eggs flying in all directions. 



The cleanliness of all apparatus used is of vital importance, 

 and much of the success of the undertaking depends upon it. A 

 clean and perfectly dry spawning dish and clean hands are most 

 desirable. Take care that the fish are clean also ; they will not 

 be so if the net be placed on the ground. By retaining them in 

 nets which can be lifted bodily they are in excellent condition for 

 handling, and the water is shaken off them before the handling 

 commences. Notwithstanding all precautions, it is impossible to 

 prevent a drop or two getting into the spawning dish occasionally, 

 but avoid it as much as possible, as the dryer the eggs are kept, 

 until the 'milt has been added to them, the better. A beginner is 

 anxious to know how long the eggs should remain in the dish with 

 the milt. This depends chiefly on temperature ; when they -cease 

 to adhere to each other, or to the dish, they may be washed, and 

 this may be in ten minutes. Do not on any account wash them 

 too soon. It is better to leave them for a couple of hours than 

 to disturb them before they are ready. A little experience here 

 is better than a good deal of theory. 



If the day be warm and the temperature of the water 50 

 Fahrenheit there will not be a long time to wait, but should it be 

 freezing hard and the water at 33 or 34, then the time will be 

 much longer. Take care not to drown the eggs with milt. They' 

 will take no harm standing in the dish for twelve hours after being 

 washed, but they may surfer if the milt be left on them. I have 

 frequently taken ova in the afternoon of one day, washed it, and 

 allowed it to stand all night in bowls ; and taken it over to the 

 hatchery next morning to be laid on the grilles. Milters should 

 always be carefully selected, and no fish that are in any way 

 deformed should be used for breeding purposes. Many deformities 

 are more or less hereditary, as has been proved in the case of 

 other animals, and it is better to avoid them. Although experi- 

 ments have been tried with the result that ova from deformed fish 

 have apparently produced well-formed healthy fish, yet the 

 reverse has also been ascertained to be the case. The result of 

 " in-breeding," too, is most disastrous, and change of blood and 



