86 Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting. 
counted those fish out, did get rather better than the average. 
In fact it would not surprise me, if that turned out to be exactly 
the case. 
Mr. Dean: ‘That is what I mean: you do not intentionally 
do so, but cannot help it, because in dipping up, the weak fish 
will not get into your nets. 
Mr. Atkins: I am hardly ready to accept that theory. I 
think the weak fish will get into the net as readily as the good 
ones. 
Mr. Dean: Yes, if you went clear to the bottom you would 
vet the weak fish, but if you just simply get the fish from the top 
of the trough, you will get the stronger and hardier specimens. 
Mr. Atkins: In our way of handling we go to the bottom 
every time. We dip up fish with nets with flat fronts. The 
water is only five inches deep and we dip clear to the bottom of 
the troughs every time. 
Mr. Clark: Would it not be better for Mr. Atkins if he 
makes a similar experiment another year, to go further back 
than the fry when they are swimming up, and take a tray, say 
of 5000 eggs, for your control lot, and a tray of eggs for your 
different fasting lots. Then you will have the weak and strong 
all together. Then I think you would come nearer a correct 
result than by the present method. 
Mr. Atkins: Yes, if you are quite sure your eggs are alike 
on the different trays; and I think it would be well worth while 
to begin with the eggs, instead of waiting for the fry. 
Mr. Clark: Start after your eggs are eyed. 
Mr. Titcomb: In your observations or experiments, have 
you observed that fry do not take any food whatever until the 
sac is entirely absorbed ? 
Mr. Atkins: | have not observed. I have not studied them 
in that direction enough to say. 
Mr. Clark: I have seen them take it before the sae was 
gone. 
