1 28 THE COMPLETE AXGLER. 



rays of the sun. from oxygenating the water flowing over the deposited 

 ova. The ova are to be taken from fish whilst in the act of naturally 

 spawning on shallows not far distant from the artificial beds. I have 

 written elsewhere on this most interesting subject, "We must avoid 

 capturing at random (a large casting net should be used) any pair of fish 

 we may see on the spawning bed, because many consorted males and 

 females are to be seen hovering about the spawning grounds several 

 days before they begin depositing their spawn. If from such fish ova be 

 expressed by manipulation, they will be found in an immature state, their 

 pores not as yet open for the reception or absorption of the milt, and 

 expressing it over them then will not produce impregnation. On the 

 contrary, when a pair, of course male and female, that have commenced 

 spawning are captured, their ova and milt will be found in the mature 

 state required, or at least a portion of them. A vessel, can, pail, or 

 small tub, must be ready, containing a small portion of clean gravel from 

 the river, and as much river water as will cover the gravel and the 

 spawn about to be placed in it. The female salmon just captured, must 

 be held up by the head over the vessel with one hand, whilst with the 

 other hand gentle pressure is made down the belly of the fish. This 

 pressure will cause the expulsion of all the ova that are mature, which 

 will be received in the vessel. The male fish is then to be held and 

 pressed in the same way, which will cause the emission of mature milt 

 into the vessel. The fish are then to be restored to their native element, 

 in which, if the manipulator be not a rough one, they will speedily re- 

 cover, and when the remaining spawn, not artificially forced from them, 

 becomes mature, they will deposit it as if nothing had happened. Having 

 expressed ova and milt into the vessel, it must be shaken so that gravel, 

 water, milt and ova, be properly mixed, and that no ova escape from 

 coining into contact with portions of the milt. If any do, they will not 

 be impregnated. On the contrary, the ova that are touched by the milt 

 are impregnated, and if properly cared for, will in due time produce 

 young salmon." 



The ova, impregnated after the manner stated, must be placed in a 

 little longitudinal trench, five inches deep, made in the artificial bed at 

 the shoulder of the inclined plane. It must be spread at the bottom of 

 the trench and covered over loosely with gravel. The gravel must not 

 be pressed down on the ova, but it must be left in just such a loose state 

 as will allow the running water to percolate through it and constantly 

 pass over the ova. If they be deposited in September, and October, 

 Xovember, and December be mild, they will be hatched in the latter 

 month, but if the weather be cold and frosty, they will not be incubated 

 before the latter end of January, or the beginning of February. The 

 young fish should be fed with insects, grubs, and very small worms, and 

 they may be set free at the age of six or eight months. They should 

 not be left in confinement longer than eleven months. Some of them 

 should be marked, with fry of the same age naturally bred in the river, 

 the marking being different, in order to determine whether there has 

 been any difference in growth when they return from the sea in a grilse 

 state. Ova artificially impregnated may be conveyed to rivers hundreds 



