PACKING OF FISH-EGGS. 87 



may be ladled out into the breeding-boxes, and safely left 

 to come to maturity in due season. Very great care is 

 necessary in handling the ova. The eggs distributed from 

 Huningue are all carefully examined on their arrival, when 

 the bad ones are thrown out, and those that are good are 

 counted and entered upon the records of the establishment, 

 which are carefully kept. The usual way of ascertaining the 

 quantity is by means of a little stamped measure, which 

 varies according to the particular fish-eggs to be counted. 

 The ova are watched with great care so long as they remain 

 in the boxes at Huningue, and any dust is removed by means 



ARTIFICIAL MODE OF SPAWNING. 



of a fine camel-hair brush, and from day to day all the eggs 

 that become addled are removed. The applications to the 

 authorities at Huningue for eggs, both from individuals and 

 associations, are always a great deal more numerous than can be 

 supplied ; and before second applications from the same people 

 can be entertained, it is necessary for them to give a detailed 

 account of how their former efforts succeeded. The eggs, when 

 sent away, are nicely packed in boxes among wet moss, and 

 they suffer very little injury if there be no delay in the transit. 



" How about the streams from which the eggs are brought T 

 I asked. "Does this robbery of the spawn not injure them ?" 



" Oh, no ; we find that it makes no difference whatever. 

 The fish are so enormously fecund that the eggs can be got in 

 any quantity, and no difference be felt in the parent waters ; 



