HATCHING THE EGGS. 143 



and heavy-looking, and hatches late, the egg will pro- 

 duce a healthy, hardy, broad-shouldered trout, and a 

 good feeder. If the embryo is seen to be thin, light, 

 transparent, and hatches before its time, it will pro- 

 duce a puny, weakly, thin-bodied fish, and a poor eater, 

 which has not five chances in a hundred of grow- 

 ing up. 



Do not be anxious to have your eggs hatch early. 

 If they hatch before their time, it is a bad sign. If 

 the embryo remains long in the shell after formingj 

 and hatches late, it is a good sign. One sure con- 

 sequence and indication of the presence of fungus is 

 the premature hatching of the egg, before the embryo 

 has become well hardened within the shell. Beware 

 of eggs that promise to hatch too early, for they are 

 very likely to be fungussy ; and out of a thousand fun- 

 gussy eggs it is an even chance if one embryo lives a 

 year. 



The microscopic changes in the eggs from day to 

 day are presented in the accompanying drawings by 

 Professor Agassiz. 



