50 



WORK IN THE HATCHING- HOUSE. 



OLD HOUSE. 



NEW HOUSE. 



Date, 



188 



Int. 



Howietoun Fishery. 



The daily care of the eggs in all the hatcheries at Howietoun 

 occupies the time of two girls, but as they also assist in packing, 

 and the annual number of eggs sold is little under two million 

 actual count, the great advantage and economy of grilles is evident. 

 The temperature of water in the hatching-house is so regular, the 

 supply being obtained from deep springs, the date of hatching 

 of any particular batch of ova can be accurately predicted, and 

 boxes (cleared by sale beforehand) prepared for the reception of 

 the alevins. This is done by removing the fittings and cleaning each 

 box. The safety-screen is next placed in position, and held by a 

 strip of flannel passed round it, pressing tightly against the sides 

 and bottom of the box. Experience has shown that two grilles 

 of ova hatched in a box produce stronger and earlier feeding-fry 

 than a larger number, and as there are four grilles in a box, twice 

 the number used for incubating are required for fry. The 

 accommodation for fry at present at Howietoun is equal to 208 

 boxes, therefore 104 boxes of ova are sufficient to hatch. Addi- 

 tional accommodation, in the form of 20-feet ponds, has been 

 provided, but the results are not so satisfactory as where fry are 



