96 PRACTICAL TROUT CULTURE. 



the forced birth is generally fatal to the fish. 

 Head, tail, back, and even the yolk sac may first 

 appear. After breaking the shell it frequently 

 happens that before emerging entirely the troutlet 

 rests for a short time, apparently for the pur- 

 pose of regaining its strength exhausted by its 

 labors. Some writers have recommended that the 

 shell be removed in this case, by gently passing 

 over the body of the fish a fine camel hair brush. 

 This, in our hands, has not been successful, med- 

 dlesome midwifery being followed by its usual 

 results. If the fishes are strong and healthy they 

 will in time clear themselves, and if not, they will 

 surely die in a short time. 



The egg shells having fulfilled the purpose for 

 which they were designed, become dirt; and if 

 the gravel troughs are used must be carefully 

 picked out with the bulb syringe, as by their de- 

 composition the health of the young fry may be 

 seriously affected. If the Caron trays be used, 

 they are for the most part carried away by the 

 current through some fall between the interstices 

 of the tubes. The young fish moves along the 

 grille until finding an opening large enough to 

 admit of the passage of his body, he falls through 

 to the tray beneath ; and by removing the cork at 

 the end of the tray can be drawn off into a pan. 

 In this operation the utmost delicacy is required. 



