&quattc Hitt 



of sterilized water. This accomplished 

 I placed the cover on the jar to keep out 

 the dust, putting it on a high shelf near 

 the window where the sun could not 

 strike it. 



The eggs could be plainly seen on the 

 bottom of the jar. On the third day five 

 were observed to have turned white, in- 

 dicating infertility, and were then re- 

 moved. The others hatched in exactly 

 ten days. Sixty-two youngsters from 

 67 eggs! 



To test the new method in direct com- 

 parison with the old I divided the next 

 spawn, handling half (32 eggs) in the 

 manner described. The balance, about 

 the same number, were placed in a hatch- 

 ing jar with the plants to which they 

 were attached. Result : New method, 

 29 young; old way, 2. Then again, new 

 way, 46 out of 52 and so on. 



During the period of incubation I pre- 

 pare a rearing tank for the fry. I have 

 had most success with a tank 18 by 12 

 by 10 inches. This was thoroughly 

 cleaned with salt water and rinsed. The 

 bird gravel for the bottom was scalded 

 with salt water and washed in repeated 

 changes of fresh water until perfectly 

 clean before placing in the tank. Eigh- 

 teen plants of Sagittaria subidata were 

 washed in a solution of permanganate of 

 potassium and rinsed in water previously 

 boiled and cooled. The plants in posi- 

 tion I placed the tank in a sunny spot and 

 filled it with sterilized water to within 

 two inches of the top, covering it with a 

 piece of glass. By the time the young 

 hatch the tank is in perfect condition to 

 receive them. 



When the eggs hatched I measured the 

 temperatures of the hatching jar and 

 the rearing tank and, finding them to 

 agree, I immediately transferred the fry. 

 Then and every morning thereafter I 

 poured into the tank half a tumblerful 



of infusoria water, which I had pre- 

 viously cultivated. This was chiefly Per- 

 amecium, the slipper animalcule. A sim- 

 ilar quantity was served during the sec- 

 ond week, with the addition of a little 

 powdered "Faultless" food. At the end 

 of two weeks they were able to swallow 

 fine Daphne, and a month from the day 

 they were born the sexes could be dis- 



Paramecium (Greatly Enlarged) 



Drawing by Perry B. Clark 



tinguished, the fish measuring from one- 

 half to three-quarters of an inch long. 



In several talks I have given on the 

 method I have noticed several listeners 

 wearing a funny smile. When I men- 

 tioned boiling the water they probably 

 thought I was poking fun at them. 

 Others has since tried it with good re- 

 sults. He who laughs last laughs best. 

 Try it first and smile afterwards ! 



(Aquarists will be apt to entertain 

 varied opinions as to the underlying rea- 

 sons for Mr. Nelles' remarkable suc- 

 cess. It may be held that fry hatching 

 from eggs remaining attached to the 

 Utricularia would be entrapped in the 

 bladders. Mr. Nelles probably used a 

 very slender species which is common 

 among aquarium keepers. Though small, 

 (Concluded on Page 14) 



