60 THE ACCLIMATISATION 



it specially needs. Eegarding the motion 

 to which the boxes must be subjected in a 

 gale of wind when the ice has melted and 

 become loose in the ice-house, it is aston- 

 ishing that any ova should survive. We 

 can only account for it by the protection 

 afforded by the moss, in which they lie on 

 a springy cushion. So great is their sensi- 

 tiveness to friction or concussion, that if 

 water even is not poured carefully upon 

 them they are kiUed. Mr. Eamsbottom, of 

 CUtheroe, who has suppHed the ova for the 

 Oheron shipment, gave us an instance of 

 the fatal effects of concussion. On one 

 occasion he was carrying three soda-water 

 bottles full of ova in water, wrapped in a 

 handkerchief, and one bottle chanced to 

 slip out and fall upon the ground. He did 

 not rear one fish from the contents of that 

 bottle ! 



•' The ova have been taken from the Eibble 

 and brought to London in excellent condi- 

 tion by Mr. Eamsbottom, though the yellow 

 colour of death may be seen among them 

 here and there, as is inevitable under the 



