REARING 167 



Covered with a cloth the vessel is now left un- 

 disturbed for about 25 minutes, or even less, accord- 

 ing to temperature. The colder the water the longer 

 the eggs must be left. At the end of the time the 

 ova will have separated themselves and become 

 hardened. Now pour in clean water, and having 

 stirred the eggs with the hand, pour off the water 

 again. Continue this washing process until all the 

 effete milt has disappeared, and the water leaving 

 the ova is as clean as that poured on them. Trans- 

 ferred into a collecting can filled with water, the 

 eggs are then ready to be taken to the hatching- 

 box. 



As soon as the fish have been stripped they 

 should be set at liberty again ; and unless they have 

 been very clumsily dealt with, they are none the worse 

 for their experiences. 



For the instruction of my readers I have indicated 

 the proper method of taking and vitalising the eggs 

 of wild trout. But to a beginner, especially if his 

 hopes are fixed on ultimate results and 'percentages.' 

 my advice is to avoid the difficulties, risks, and un- 

 certainty, not to mention the personal discomfort, 

 involved in collecting the ova. Let him take a short 

 cut, by purchasing eggs at a later stage of develop- 

 ment, known as ' fully-eyed ova,' from a leading fish- 



