NUMBER AND SIZE OF OVA IN FISH. 55 



As regards the size of the ovum,it seems a settled natu- 

 ral law that the size of each individual egg in each species 

 of fish is fixed and uniform, and perfectly independent of 

 the dimensions of the individual containing them ; while, 

 on the other hand, their number in each case essentially 

 depends upon the magnitude of the parent fish. Thus, the 

 egg of a small trout, not longer than the finger, is indivi- 

 dually quite as large as that of a fish, belonging to the same 

 species, three pounds in weight ; but the number of eggs 

 in the latter will amount to several thousands, while 

 those in the former may not exceed thirty or forty. The 

 number and size of the ova differ widely, however, in 

 different species. The egg of the smelt is much larger 

 than that of the cod-fish ; and while the weight of the 

 former, in its adult state, is only three or four ounces, 

 that of the latter sometimes reaches forty pounds. While, 

 strange as it may seem, it is nevertheless true, that the 

 ovum of the stickleback, the least of the finny tribe, is 

 more than six times larger than that of the smelt, and 

 consequently very much larger than that of the hugest 

 cod, a circumstance not a little wonderful when the 

 dimensions of the two parents are compared ; but where 

 the stickleback will only spawn a few ova, the female 

 cod will deposit many thousands. 



Although it may be a matter of small concern to the 

 mere pot-fisher to know what becomes of the trout after 

 the spawning process is completed, it is an inquiry of 

 some interest to the intelligent and scientific sportsman. 



From personal observation, combined with other 

 sources of information, their modus operandi, after com- 



