12 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



pushing aside the gravel with her nose, forms a shal- 

 low nest. In this the eggs are deposited, and, when 

 milted upon by the male, are covered with loose 

 gravel, then left until hatched. 



During the spawning season large quantities of 

 eggs are secured from wild fish by the hatcheries at 

 the natural beds. Many trout are also taken in nets 

 throughout the year and kept in ponds until ripe, 

 but as the facilities for keeping a quantity of fish 

 are limited, an additional amount of spawn , must be 

 secured. The beds are easily found, and when the 

 trout arrive, they are taken, a few at a time, in small 

 nets. An expert employe can note in a moment if a 

 fish is ripe ; if not, it is returned to the water. When 

 the fish is held by the tail the eggs will move toward 

 the head, leaving the stomach shrunken ; if it is 

 unripe this will not occur. The eggs and milt from 

 the females and males are dropped separately into 

 pans and at once gently mixed with a feather. After 

 standing a few moments, they are carefully and con- 

 stantly washed in pure running water until absolutely 

 clean. The eggs, heretofore adhering, separate in an 

 hour or less, and are then placed in gravel-bottom 

 troughs, and left alone for some thirty days. After 

 that period eye spots begin to appear, whereupon the 

 eggs are placed in gauze-covered trays, in troughs of 

 running water, there to remain until hatched out. 



