HATCHING THE EGGS. 137 



hatching-troughs,* and pour one layer evenly over the 

 moss.f This can be done with a spoon, or still better, 

 perhaps, as Green suggests, with a ladle, the mouth 

 of the ladle in pouring being made to rest on the rim 

 of the box under water,J so that the eggs will not 

 come to the air at all. 



One layer of eggs having been placed, put in anoth- 

 er thin layer of moss. This layer, as also the others 

 succeeding it, should be carefully picked over, and' 

 all grass and roots removed, so as to make as soft 

 and delicate a packing as possible. 



After the second layer of moss, place another layer 

 of eggs, and so on, alternating till the box is filled, 

 taking care to keep the box and to conduct all the 

 operations under water, for it should be always borne 

 in mind, when fish eggs are moved, that the secret of 

 moving them correctly is to keep the eggs in the 

 water, where, of course, they ought to be. 



After the top layer of moss is placed, take the box 

 of moss and eggs out of the pan, and set it where the 



* Any strainer of convenient shape will do to take out the 

 eggs with. If they are much scattered, first collect them to- 

 gether in a heap with the feather. A skilful person will take 

 them out safely with a large table-spoon. 



t Theodore Lyman recommends placing each layer of eggs in 

 a fold of mosquito-netting, to keep them from mixing with the 

 moss, and so facilitate the unpacking of them. This is a great 

 improvement. Stationary* racks are also sometimes placed 

 above each layer to catch the pressure of the supervening eggs 

 and moss. 



\ All moving of eggs should be done under water when prac- 

 ticable. 



