FISH-BREEDING. 473 



basins are some distance removed from where the operation 

 has been performed, the water must be renewed before they 

 arrive at their destination, provided the distance be not too 

 great, for then other means must be taken. 



'' While the mixture is agitated to help the absorption of 

 the semen, if the eggs are of that species which are found to 

 be naturally cemented together hj a gelatinous matter, as, for 

 example, are those of the Perch, great care must be taken not 

 to pull them apart. This agglutination is a natural condition 

 of their development, of which it would be injurious to 

 deprive them. 



"There is still another mode of treating the mixture of 

 fecundating particles with the water, which serves as a 

 vehicle, and of aiding their absorption by the eggs to be 

 fecundated ; it is to place in the vessel a cullender well 

 riddled, or better still, a fine basket. Into this, while in the 

 water, the eggs are expressed, and then the milt. The 

 cullender should then be moved about, up and down, and 

 from side to side, care being taken to keep it always in the 

 water. This movement has a double result : it thoroughly 

 mixes the fecundating liquor and brings it in contact with 

 every part of the eggs, and the experiment will be successful 

 if, after the agitation of the cullender, it is allowed to remain 

 at the bottom of the vessel quietly for two or three minutes. 



" A third process is to express into the vessel the milt, and 

 not cause the eggs to fall into the water till it has been thus 

 first charged with fecundating particles. The medium being 

 thus prepared beforehand, the eggs reach it in a condition of 

 peculiar aptitude for absorption, which they possess in the 

 highest degree the first moment of their immersion. This 

 mode then seems to offer the greater chance of success. I do 

 not mean to assert that eggs laid in the water some time 

 before the milt is brought in contact with them, lose the 



