HOW SPAWN IS TAKEN FROM FISH. 2/ 



soft and flabby, and if she were held up by the head 

 her spawn would settle downward, while with the 

 unripe female, the spawn remains stationary in 

 place, and feels to the touch hard and bunchy, like 

 shot. 



When all is in readiness, the fish is taken by the 

 head with the right, and by the lower part of the 

 body with the left, hand, and held over the pan, with 

 the belly as near the bottom as possible. The fish 

 will struggle quite violently at first; it is many times 

 necessary to place it back in the tub for a moment 

 and commence again. When the fish gets quiet, 

 the right hand is gently slipped down from the upper 

 part of the body, and the forefinger used to press the 

 belly, the hold on the tail or lower part of the fish 

 being retained. If the fish is a large one, it is often 

 necessary for the operator to have an assistant to 

 hold its head, as it would be very difficult for one 

 person both to hold and take the eggs, without 

 injuring the fish. 



If the fish are handled too roughly, the slime which 

 covers the bodies of the fish will be broken, and in 

 that case a fungus growth appears upon them, and 

 the result is almost invariably death. In some in- 

 stances they may be cured by immersing them 

 several times in a strong salt water bath until they 

 turn over, and then placing them immediately in 

 fresh water; but this is rarely effectual. The pan may 

 be slightly elevated on one side by placing a small 

 block under it about an inch in thickness; this is so 

 that the spawn and milt will occupy less space. The 

 bottom of the pan should be moistened by dipping it 

 into water and immediately pouring it out. This is 



