Trout Breeding. 77 



table instance of this may be found in the first chapter 

 of Tristram Shandy), and fish eggs 'may be injured in 

 transit by heat, concussion, or a lack of moisture, so 

 that the embryo will come into the world only to die. 



Concussion is more immediately fatal than a high 

 temperature ; it kills within a few days. Lack of mois- 

 ture is shown at once by indented eggs, and upon the 

 degree of indentation rests the damage. I have ex- 

 perimented with such eggs and have found that those 

 only slightly indented have produced good fish, while 

 others somewhat drier did uct. A high temperature 

 on eggs of Salmonidcc, and it is of these that I speak, 

 makes weak embryos, if they live to break the shell. 

 They hatch head first, and all fishculturists know that 

 such fish have a small chance for life, or they have not 

 strength enough to straighten from the coil in which 

 they have been and are ''whirligigs," spinning round 

 in one direction at every effort to move. These die oi 

 starvation because they cannot swim. 



A lot of saibling eggs received from Germany looked 

 first-rate, but one-fifth of the embryos had not strength 

 enough to straighten after hatching. Another result 

 of high temperature en route is a softening of the egg, 

 either the outer covering or some part beneath, and 

 these embroys hatch but do not live to take food. 



Of some eggs of our lake whitefish sent to me by 

 Mr. Clark for transmission to Germany, and repacked 

 in my boxes, the late Herr von Behr wrote as follows : 



"Berlin, Feb. i, 1881. 



"MR. MATHER: It is wonderful how good the 

 whitefish eggs arrived. I divided them and sent them 

 to many parts of Germany and Austria, with no loss 

 tp speak of. This manner of packing may be immor- 



