Aquatic Lite 81 
contraction and expansion of the organ 
to make the fish of the same specific 
gravity or weight as the water. Com- 
plete recovery is rare, so unless the fish 
is highly prized, it is well to put it out 
of its misery at once. In some cases the 
specimen will be unable to rise from the 
bottom, which indicates a shrinkage of 
the organ; in others it may move with 
great effort, swim on its side or find it 
impossible to do other than float at the 
surface, the organ being abnormally in- 
flated. Examples that are killed should 
be dissected and the condition of the 
bladder noted. Treat as for constipation, 
using a strong solution of epsom salt. 
Sometimes what seems to be bladder 
trouble is only a severe case of constipa- 
tion. If it does not yield, little can be 
done, but comparative relief may be 
given in moderately warm, shallow 
water. 
One of the bugbears of every breeder 
is a roe-bound female, and a season sel- 
dom passes without the loss of a choice 
specimen from this cause. Troemner, 
in a previous number of Aguatic LIFE, 
cites such an incident. He opened the 
fish and removed and weighed the eggs, 
finding them to be almost equal in weight 
to the body. Usually one hesitates to 
resort to stripping, lest a valuable fish 
be injured, hoping that nature will force 
the expulsion of the eggs. Until recently 
I had the same fear. Last spring a fe- 
male that I highly prized became roe- 
bound. Several times I tried stripping. 
proceeding gently but without success. 
Finally, acting on the theory that I would 
‘ose her one way or the other, I used real 
force, so much so that the oviduct pro- 
truded. Then she was placed in an 
aquarium with a couple of males, who 
began to drive her immediately. One 
went under her tail and was plainly ob- 
served to bite at the protruding oviduct. 
Then the eggs came, clouds of them, and 
it was a very successful spawning. Since 
that time I have similarly treated others, 
always with success, as no harm resulted. 
I have even stripped males without in- 
jury to secure milt for experiments in 
artificial fertilization. The roes are just 
in front and to either side of the anus, 
hence a steady, even pressure should be 
exerted with the ball of the thumb 
toward it. 
Parasites are frequently introduced 
into aquaria on new plants and fishes. 
They are most annoying to the fishes, 
who will be seen endeavoring to remove 
them by rubbing against plants and 
stones. They will usually succeed in this, 
and the parasites will be carried away if 
the fishes are kept in running water. If 
this is not possible, isolate the sufferers 
in a well-planted tank containing broad- 
leaf Sagittaria. Every day draw off 
water from the bottom, removing all 
sediment and excrement, replacing with 
water of the same temperature. When 
the fish has been cured, let the tank stand 
unoccupied for a couple of weeks to kill 
the parasites by starvation. 
In handling fish out of water, which 
is necessary in some treatments, the gills 
should be covered with a soft, wet cloth, 
for 1f the gills are kept moist the fish 
will experience no serious discomfort. 
————— 
At the annual meeting of the Aquatic 
Association of Maryland, held in Janu- 
ary, the following officers were elected ta 
serve during the ensuing year: President, 
Ernest A. Gill; Vice-President, W. H. 
Casselll;) Seeretarny,, PB. (©. Chambliss; 
Treasurer, Louis Hens. 
It was decided that the Association 
would hold its first public exhibition dur- 
ing March. J. Shelton Hill was appoint- 
ed chairman of a temporary exhibition 
