PEOPAGATION OF FISH. 257 



in it, and with motion either of current or from the 

 winds. It deposits its eggs on rocky or pebbly ledges. 

 The parents guard and protect their nests till the young 

 are hatched, and even watch over the latter till they can 

 take care of themselves. The fish generally selected for 

 transfer are from one to three years old, measuring from 

 three to twelve inches in length. Fish of this size are 

 not only more numerous, but they bear transportation 

 better, and are more readily acclimated than when larger. 

 They are moved with a great deal of difficulty in hot 

 weather, especially when the journey requires more than 

 twelve or fifteen hours ; but with care and skill no serious 

 loss need take place. 



The implements of the fish-culturist are few and simple. 

 A few feathers may be kept on hand to use in spreading 

 the eggs when placing them in the troughs, in collecting 

 them for packing, and moving them in the search after 

 dead eggs. Nippers made of wire or some elastic wood, 

 like red cedar, bent or cut into the shape of the letter U, 

 elongated to about six inches, and with loops of wire at 

 the ends about the eighth of an inch wide, will hold an 

 egg without trouble. A small homoeopathic phial is used 

 to examine the eggs. The manner of its use is, to fill it 

 with water, put in the eggs to be examined, cork it, hold 

 it up before the window in a horizontal position, and 

 with your microscope look up through the side of the 

 phial. . This brings the egg which lies at the bottom of 

 the glass within the focus of the microscope, and the 

 water does not distort its shape. The microscope need 

 not be very strong ; one magnifying eight or ten diameters 

 is amply sufficient. A small net will be of use in remov- 

 ing the young fish and any refuse in the water from the 



