82 PRACTICAL TROUT CULTURE. 



ever, the eggs flow freely, the curve is to be grad- 

 ually increased until they have ceased to flow, 

 when, by the gentle motion of the forefinger, the 

 few remaining in the cavity of the abdomen may 

 be safely forced out. When the spawn of one 

 female is taken, they should at once be impreg- 

 nated by treating the male fish in the same manner 

 milt instead of spawn being emitted. It is rec- 

 ommended by some authors that the male be first 

 taken, for the reason that he is more unmanageable 

 than the female, but we have found on experiment 

 that the eggs are better impregnated when they 

 are taken first. If there be a scarcity of males (no 

 uncommon occurrence toward the end of the sea- 

 son), use only water enough in the pan to cover 

 the eggs. The milt having been emitted upon the 

 spawn, they should be stirred gently with a feather, 

 or, better still, with the tail of the male fish. Some 

 care is here required, as too energetic stirring will 

 destroy the new life which has but just been im- 

 parted ; but if the eggs be not stirred, a large per- 

 centage will fail to impregnate. From careful 

 observations we have found that the ratio of non- 

 impregnation between stirred and non-stirred eggs 

 was as five to forty. If the eggs be examined at 

 once, they will be found to be wrinkled, the 

 shell or enveloping membrane being apparently 

 much too large for the contents ; but immediately 



