REARING 183 



from Frank Buckland's ' Natural History of British 

 Fishes,' represent a newly hatched salmon. But they 

 convey also a very good idea of the appearance of 

 his near relative the trout at the same tender age. 

 For among the infants of the Salmonidse group 

 there is a strong family likeness, although the baby 

 trout is, as you would expect him to be, smaller 

 than the king of fishes. 



Examine one of the alevins under a microscope, 

 and you will be rewarded by a spectacle which has 

 been described by Buckland as c one of the most 

 beautiful sights ever beheld by human eyes,' including 

 a complete demonstration of the circulation of the 

 blood. 



The first impulse of the alevins seems to show 

 itself in eagerness to seek concealment and to avoid 

 light. Fitful and spasmodic are their earliest efforts 

 in locomotion. Encumbered by the huge yolk sac, 

 they wriggle about in a clumsy and aimless way, and 

 then sink to the bottom of the tray and lie panting 

 on their sides. 



When you have feasted your eyes on the wonderful 

 transformation scene, replace the tray covers and 

 leave the hatching process to continue in darkness 

 undisturbed. On examining the trays next morning, 

 you will find that most of the eggs in it have hatched 



