How to obtain it. 187 



It should be well adapted for packing embryo trout, for it 

 has been largely used for packing human infants by the Lapland 

 women, who wrap their children in it. When well dried it is 

 found to provide an exceedingly good protection against cold. 



The moss is gathered and carefully kept in a cool, damp 

 place, where it undergoes the felting process, which is very simple. 

 A number of presses are filled with layers of moss and sheets of 

 perforated zinc alternately, and after remaining all night, the moss 

 is taken out beautifully felted next morning, and so a fresh supply 

 is continually being produced. It is not by any means necessary 

 to felt the moss ; indeed, so far as it and the eggs are concerned, 

 it answers the purpose just as well without being felted, but for 

 packing large quantities of ova it is an absolute necessity to have 

 everything expeditiously done, considering the price at which 

 trout eggs are put upon the market. 



The fabric which is used between the moss and the eggs 

 should first be well washed, to cleanse it from starch or any other 

 impurities. I once received a lot of ova which may be said to 

 have been packed in window curtains and starch. The sender 

 had cut up an old curtain, and used the pieces stiff with starch 

 for packing the ova, with the result that on unpacking here they 

 came out a conglomerated mass of eggs and starch. The eggs 

 were covered with the slimy stuff, and had to be well washed. 

 I have seen more than one case of this kind. Now, although 

 starch is considered sufficiently wholesome to give in large quan- 

 tities to human infants, it is decidedly bad for trout, and its use 

 is to be avoided. Had the journey been a long one the eggs 

 might have suffered materially, and in any case there would be a 

 great risk of their being attacked by that most dreaded pest of 

 the fish culturist, Saprolegnia (fungus). It would not attack them 

 probably until they were in the hatching boxes, as it does not 

 grow readily in air, too much oxygen being fatal to it. Hence 

 the necessity for carefully washing the eggs before laying them 

 down. It should always be done. 



Old window curtains, after being well washed, make excellent 

 packing material for trout ova, but a variety of fabrics may be 

 used. The great point to be observed is cleanliness. 



Eggs may be packed as soon as the eye spots begin to show 



