PISCICULTURE. 173 



the young fish in this predicament, its bulk 

 being still within the shell, and the protruding 

 tail so delicate as easily to escape observation 

 when in motion ; the appearance is as if the 

 egg itself moved spontaneously. 



AMICUS. You have made angling interesting 

 to me, and, now, I thank you for it, you are 

 doing the same for the breeding of fish ; give 

 me, if you please, a little further information on 

 the matter. Tell me what is most essential 

 for conducting the process with the best chance 

 of a successful issue, and with the least trouble 

 and the simplest means. 



PISCATOR. You are easily answered. All 

 that I have found necessary, whether in the 

 instance of the ova of the charr, the salmon, or 

 the minnow, have been pure water, changing 

 it once a day, and clean vessels of glass or 

 earthenware, the size and volume of water in 

 some proportion to the number of ova : if not 

 exceeding half a dozen, a tumbler will suffice. 

 The temperature is of less importance : if that 

 of a room, with a fire in winter, so as to range 

 from 45 to 55, the hatching will be unduly 

 early ; if of a lower temperature, the hatching 

 will be retarded; and the lower it is, the 



