INCUBATION. 87 



CHAPTER VIL 



INCUBATION. 



WE will suppose that our spawn has been taken 

 with all possible care and safely deposited in the 

 hatching-house, that the supply of water is ample 

 and of equable temperature, and that filtering ap- 

 paratus, stop-cocks, and other accessories are in 

 perfect order. Yet still we must not feel too sure 

 of a happy and successful result. Until at least 

 seven days have elapsed, we know of no means, 

 even with the microscope, of positively deciding 

 between impregnated and non-impregnated spawn. 

 u Never count your chickens before they are 

 hatched,'' is a proverb which must be borne in 

 mind ; the character and standing of more than 

 one fish culturist has suffered from a contrary 

 course. The crop is at best a somewhat uncertain 

 one, especially in inexperienced hands. All con- 

 tracts for u yet to be" fishes or spawn should be 

 made with the proviso, "if on hand." We have 

 known all the eggs of a large fish to fail in im- 

 pregnating ; and those taken from fishes of over a 



und weight obtained from other waters must 

 always be regarded with suspicion. We have 



