44 Trout Culture. 



the most delayed. If ten minutes elapsed 

 between obtaining the milt and the mixing of 

 it with the eggs, the fecundation failed almost 

 entirely. His observations, and the microscopic 

 researches of the eggs and milt, showed that ; 



" First. When received in water at the moment 

 of issuing from the fish, the eggs absorb the water, 

 and preserve the power of being impregnated 

 only as long as this absorption is not finished : 

 that is to say, during a half hour at the utmost. 

 Once saturated with water, the eggs do not 

 absorb any spermatozoa : but if received into 

 dry vessels on issuing from the fish, the eggs 

 remain, on the contrary, in a neutral state 

 for a lengthened time, and do not lose the 

 power, when placed in water, of receiving the 

 spermatozoa. 



"Second. The spermatozoa of the milt, in 

 falling into the water, commence immediately, 

 with much vigour and rapidity, to make move- 

 ments, which only last, however, for a minute 



