288 TROUT CULTURE. 



Trammel nets must be used for this purpose, 

 fixing one at each end of the beds. The fish will 

 rush into the nets when the shelters are removed. 

 When caught, the sexes should be separated. They 

 are easily distinguished, as at spawning time the eggs 

 can be felt in the female fish, whilst in the male the 

 milt being a liquid, is easily recognised. Unless a 

 fish is thoroughly ripe it should be kept until it is, in 

 a box or can used for that purpose, as unripe eggs are 

 of no use for hatching purposes. The following is 

 the most approved method of procedure. 



SPAWNING. All being ready for the process, the 

 pan or vessel to be used is laid upon the ground, 

 tilted to one side, quite dry, a hen fish is taken from 

 the tub and allowed to kick about a short time to 

 induce it to lay its eggs more freely. The fish is 

 carefully held with a piece of woollen fabric in the 

 left hand, an assistant holding the tail. The fish is 

 held sideways, and the spawner with his right hand 

 strips the fish, beginning at the upper end of the ovary, 

 which extends nearly to the pectoral fin, and carrying 

 the pressure gently but quickly to the vent ; only 

 using the thumb and fourth finger. When one or 

 two hens are stripped, the milter is held over the 

 eggs, which are then fecundated, the milt being 

 abstracted in the same way. 



Each fish should be carefully returned to the 

 shallow water. The .pan should be tilted a little, so 

 as to mix the milt with the eggs, and then allowed 

 to stand for a few minutes, after which a little water 

 must be added, just enough to cover the eggs, and 



