Fish-Hatching in a Current of Water. 117 



in which no fish exist, will remain good and 

 sound to the last. 



During the time of hatching, the watering- 

 pot should be freely used, and indeed all 

 through the time of incubation, when sediment 

 becomes troublesome. When the hatching is 

 going on, the empty shells and debris of the 

 eggs are by this means washed away and get 

 collected against the screens, when they can be 

 removed. The current of water should now be 

 increased a little, and a slightly higher 

 temperature is not objectionable. The alevin 

 stage of the fish is the least troublesome time 

 in the rearing of young trout or salmon. 

 They do not require any food, and are little 

 liable to loss at this period. A little very fine 

 earthy gravel should be spread over the 

 coarser gravel in the hatching-boxes, to cover 

 up and deodorize any particles of decaying 

 eggs which may be in the gravel. Of course, 

 all dead fish should be removed at once, as 

 decay sets in very speedily. Every second 

 day, a sprinkling of fine volcanic earth, or 

 good loam, not of an adhesive nature, is very 

 beneficial, and it should be scattered over the 

 surface of the water. The shower should be 



