ARTIFICIAL IMPREGNATION. 81 



acquainted with the subject ; but the fish is held in 

 such a position (Fig. 17 represents the position which 

 we have found most convenient) that the eggs nat- 

 urally flow from the vent. It will be seen that the 

 fish is bent somewhat in the form of the letter $, the 

 right and left hands being respectively placed on 

 the head and tail, with the thumbs and forefingers 



Fio. 17. 



pressing upon those parts where, as previously 

 mentioned, pressure can be made without injury. 

 With a left-handed person the position of the 

 hands is of course reversed. If on holding the fish 

 in the proper position no eggs appear, the belly 

 may be gently stroked from above downward with 

 the forefinger of the right hand, and if the eggs are 

 still retained, the fish should be returned to the 

 water, as she is either diseased or unripe, in either 

 of which cases the eggs would be useless. If, how- 



4* 



