THE NEW AKT OF BEEEDING FISH. 49 



formed, the water must be renewed before they ar- 

 rive at their destination, provided the distance be 

 not too great, for then other means must be taken, 

 which I will explain when I come to describe means 

 of transport. 



While the mixture is agitated to help the absorp- 

 tion of the semen, if the eggs are of that species 

 which are found to be naturally cemented together 

 by a gelatinous matter, as, for example, are those of 

 the perch, great care must be taken not to pull them 

 apart. This agglutination is a natural condition of 

 their development, of which it would be injurious to 

 deprive them. 



There is still another mode of treating the mix- 

 ture of fecundating particles with the water, which 

 serves as a vehicle, and of aiding their absorption by 

 the eggs to be fecundated : it is to place in the vessel 

 a cullender well riddled, or better stiU, a fine basket. 

 Into this, while in the water, the eggs are expressed, 

 and then the milt. The cullender should then be 

 moved aboutj up and down, and from side to side, 

 care being taken to keep it always in the water. 

 This movement has a double result : it thoroughly 

 mixes the fecundating liquor and brings it in contact 

 with every part of the eggs, and the experiment will 

 be successful if, after the agitation of the cullender, 

 it is allowed to remain at the bottom of the vessel 

 quietly for two or three minutes. 



A third process is to express into the vessel the 

 , milt, and not cause the eggs to fall in^p.-ji^e^^ajtgr 



8 



