a 3d 
a a ah a at FO at a es a es 
ad Os | 
f 
: On Transporting Living Daphnia ! 
mes eee er em es ee 0 es Oe oe za 
For several years a few fish breeders 
have been carrying their Daphne home on 
cloth stretchers or trays, instead of in 
pails of water. This method has such 
important advantages that its use should 
become more general. As all aquarists 
are not familiar with the scheme, a de- 
scription follows, together with a state- 
ment of the results of a series of experi- 
ments made to test its efficiency. 
Collectors of Daphne and mosquito 
larve have occasionally noted, when the 
net is kept moist over night, that the 
“insects” clinging to it will be alive the 
following morning. It has also been 
long known to the writer and others that 
quite a large mass of Daphne can be car- 
ried home in the net if it 1s not allowed 
to dry. These facts have brought about 
the development of the cloth tray or 
stretcher on which to carry any kind of 
pend food. The tray on which the food 
has been placed is carried in a tight re- 
ceptacle which will prevent evaporation. 
Upon arrival home the food is washed 
from the tray into water. Any arrange- 
ment embodying these principles will 
answer. 
The outfit I am using fills every re- 
Ihe carrier 1s a) tin’ bread 
box measuring 12 inches long, 9 inches 
deep and 8 inches wide. This holds nine 
trays, the frames of which are wood, 
34-inch square. These are about a half- 
inch shorter in width and length than the 
corresponding inside measurements of 
quirement. 
the carrier, which permits easy removal. 
Fine muslin forms the bottom of the 
tray. The edges of the fabric are turned 
over neatly and fastened to the outside 
of the frame with small copper tacks. 
WILLIAM T. INNES | 
2d 
Tacks of copper allow easy removal 
when new muslin is needed. In order 
to economize in weight I used soft white 
pine for the frames, giving them a coat 
of shellac to make them moisture proof. 
The box is enamaled white, because white 
absorbs considerably less heat than dark 
colors while standing in the sun. 
When collecting, set a tray in the water 
rim up, placing the food in it as gathered. 
A tray will carry a layer 1-16 inch deep 
after the water has been drained. If not 
to be carried for more than an hour or 
two they may be piled % inch deep. Let 
me say here that a quarter inch of “bugs” 
in a tray of this size is a big lot of food. 
It is about as much as can be carried in 
a large can of water for an hour without 
ice. In lifting the tray from the water 
proceed slowly, after spreading the con- 
tents as evenly as possible. ‘The muslin 
should not belly downwards and allow 
the Daphne to work in under the frame, 
which it will do if too hastily withdrawn 
from the water. 
To empty a tray invert it over a pan 
or tub. Ifa hose is handy, run the water 
first around the edge and then over the 
centre. This prevents washing the con- 
tents between the frame and muslin. In 
spite of care some will lodge there, but 
are easily removed by pressing the fabric 
slightly backward and pouring water on 
the edge. This removal is important. 
There have been complaints that the cloth 
soon rots and needs renewing. ‘This, I 
think, is caused by the particles allowed 
to remain and decompose, or because the 
trays are not thoroughly dried after use. 
They should be stood apart in the air 
and not returned to the box while any 
