472 AMERICAN ANGLER'S BOOK. 



begin to fall into it ; another is, the white color of these eggs 

 when they come in contact with the water. When neither 

 of these appearances is observed, we may be almost sure the 

 operation will be successful ; for the eggs will then be in a 

 good condition. But in all cases we must guard against 

 allowing too great a quantity of eggs to fall into one vessel, 

 for if those on the bottom are covered over by too many 

 others, they will not perhaps come in contact with the milt, 

 which should reach every part of them. It will be well, if 

 the females are found to be very productive, to empty the 

 spawn into a number of vessels. The results will then be 

 more satisfactory. 



" As soon as the process of delivering the female of the 

 spawn is complete, if it appears that the operation of express- 

 ing it has brought along with it any part of the mucus which 

 is secreted by her intestines, the water should be immediately 

 changed, so as to free it from every impurity, care being 

 always taken that the eggs are not allowed to become dry. 

 This done, a male fish should be taken, and his milt expressed 

 in the same manner as the female's eggs. If the milt has 

 arrived at a state of maturity it will flow abundantly, white 

 and thick like cream, and as soon as enough has been taken 

 from him to give the water in the vessel the appearance of 

 whey, it is saturated sufficiently. But in order that the 

 fecundating particles may be spread everywhere and uni- 

 formly, the precaution should be taken of agitating the 

 mixture, and of softly turning over the eggs with the hand, . 

 or what is better, with the fine long hairs of a brush, so that 

 no part of their surface shall escape contact with the fecun- 

 dating element. 



" After two or three minutes' rest the fecundation is accom- 

 plished, and then the eggs, with the water surrounding them, 

 should be emptied into the hatching basins; or if these 



