CHAPTEK III. 



PACKING THE TROUT OVA. 



A GREAT many people suppose that ova can be forwarded from any 

 well-regulated piscicultural establishment within a few hours of the 

 receipt of a telegram. At Howietoun, at least fifty-six hours are re- 

 quired between the receipt of the order and the despatch of the ova. 

 Even supposing the customer's water is well known to the Fishery, 

 and his mode of hatching clearly understood, it is still necessary 

 for the Secretary to determine the age and quality of ova most 

 suitable, and the boxes in the houses in which such ova is being 

 incubated. The despatching-house note must then be filled up, to 

 be forwarded along with others to the Manager ; the departure 

 and arrival of the trains must be ascertained, and the railway 

 advice-note sent to Stirling Station, and the letter announcing 

 the days of despatch and arrival posted to the customer. This 

 occupies the first day. The following morning the Manager lifts 

 out the grilles from the boxes selected, in order that the attend- 

 ants may remove all clear ova, and any eggs containing pale- 

 coloured or puny embryos. This weeding process requires good 

 clear daylight, and in winter in Scotland only four hours, from ten 

 to two, are available. In the afternoon the eggs are thrown ofi 

 the grilles in a very simple and expeditious manner. 



In the anteroom of the sunk floor of the principal hatching- 

 house a sink is placed in the recess formed by the stone staircase ; 

 a 2-inch pipe, protected by a suitable brass grating, is led into the 

 bottom of the centre of the sink ; a valve, worked by a large 

 wooden handle, passing through the face of the skirting, closes 



