SPAWNING. 35 



inevitable, another course of procedure must be used. 

 The ova should be carried in a light, shallow wicker 

 basket, in the bottom of which a layer of moss has 

 been evenly spread ; then a piece of fine " tiffany " or 

 cap-netting is laid over it, and the eggs laid on that in 

 a good thick stratum or layer, three or four deep : this 

 is covered with another piece of the same material, 

 and moss put over it, the process being repeated till the 

 whole are packed, or the basket is filled, finishing off 

 with a layer of moss and a good sprinkling of water to 

 keep all moist during the journey. It will be found 

 necessary to soak the tiffany or other stuff used in two 

 or three waters, in order to remove all the dressing 

 from it, as this often contains noxious substances ; it 

 may be wrung out and dried, so as to minimize the 

 weight on the outward journey. 



The basket or baskets used should have a " fold- 

 down " handle, and be sufficiently shallow to go under 

 the seat of a railway carriage ; or, by carrying with him 

 a sheet of thin india-rubber cloth, the pisciculturist 

 may carry the basket on his knees, without fear of 

 damp or cold to himself, or injuring the seat of carriage. 



As to the number of eggs to be allowed to a square 

 foot of trough, to secure perfect health and strength, 

 we should recommend that the number should be 

 restricted to a thousand, which is a perfectly safe 

 number ; and is, after all, amply sufficient for the 

 private hatching-house, in which quality, not quantity, 

 is the great object in view. 



In arranging eggs a feather may be of great service, 

 if lightly used ; as, by its means, the eggs may be 

 easily separated, so that no two may touch each other. 

 They will hatch out better for this, as each egg will 



