Spawning. 3 7 



sideways, with the vent as near the bottom of 

 the spawning pan as possible, and the spawner 

 with his right hand strips the fish. Some 

 operators begin at the upper end of the ovary, 

 which extends nearly to the pectoral fin, and 

 carry the pressure gently, but quickly, to the 

 vent, only using the thumb and fourth finger. 

 Others first press out the eggs nearest the vent 

 and then work up the ovary, squeezing the eggs 

 out portion by portion until all are removed. 

 So long as no backward pressure is allowed, 

 which would injure the fish, this is a good 

 method. 



Whatever plan be adopted, it must be carried 

 out rapidly and gently : if the fish be faint, or 

 refuses to yield all its eggs, it must be put into a 

 vessel of fresh water for a few minutes, whilst 

 another hen is stripped, by which time it will 

 probably have recovered, and can be completely 

 emptied. When one or two hens have been 

 stripped, the cock is held over the eggs, and his 



