Packing and Transportation of Salmon-eggs. 19 
that if their vitality. has been weakened by sediment, fun- 
goid growths, attacks from  water-insects, or any other 
causes whatever, they had better be kept where they are, 
They are certainly not fit to be packed for a long journey. 
(3.) Lu packing, use as far as practicable fresh, living moss. 
This is very desirable, indeed, as the live moss takes up the effete 
exhalations from the eggs, and in return furnishes oxygen 
to sustain the life of the embryo. Indeed, so serviceable is 
living moss in this respect, that fish-eggs packed in it can be 
enclosed in a perfectly air-tight package safely for a long 
time. 
(4.) Use clean moss, from which all extraneous matter, such 
as «sticks, dead leaves, and the like, have been removed: 
Decaying vegetation or hard substances can do the eggs no 
good, and may do them harm. 
(5.) The eggs should be packed very tightly. There is very 
little danger in your exerting too much pressure on them 
if they are taken at the right stage, and if moss and eggs 
are all right to start with. In packing the California sal- 
mon-eggs, which have made the journey successfully from 
the Pacific to the Atlantic so many times the last few years, 
the moss is piled up an inch or two above the top of the 
packing-boxes, and then the covers are forced down to their 
place by a very strong pressure. If the eggs are healthy, 
and packed at the proper stage, it will not injure them in the 
least, and the close packing, consequent upon this pressure, 
will keep them in their place, which is one-half the battle. 
If you are afraid the egg-shell will not bear the pressure, try 
to squeeze a healthy salmon-egg between the thumb and fin- 
ger when the eye-spot first shows, and see how much pressure 
it will stand before the shell breaks. 
