140 THE NEW AET OF BREEDING EISH. 



The female fish was turned over, one man holding 

 the tail, another running his hands down each side 

 from the head, and, pressing lightly with his 

 thumbs, the ova were readily discharged into the 

 tub ; a similar course readily discharged the milt. 

 Both fish immediately, and apparently without the 

 smallest injury, were returned to the river. The 

 contents of the tub were then mixed by a motion 

 of the hand. In one minute the water was poured 

 ofi", and fresh put on, which was also poured ofi", and 

 the ova put into the vessel, to carry to the prejDared 

 hatching ground. In pouring off the water from 

 the ova, always retain sufficient to preserve it from 

 the air, both in the carrying vessels and spawning 

 tubs ; unless the fish be in a fit state the ova will 

 not shed by gentle pressure, in which case no vio- 

 lence should be used, but the salmon returned to 

 the river, and fish in a more advanced stage taken. 

 In distribution, the ova intended for one box should 

 be put into one vessel, and this poured out gradu- 

 ally at the upper end of the box ; the waterflow 

 downwards will carry it [them, the ova] among the 

 stones, under which it [they] will settle down, and 

 wherever too thick, by raising some water in the 

 vessel, and pouring it down, this will disturb and 

 float the spawn iijto a more equal distribution, that 

 should, if possible, be done the same night as taken. 

 We consider the boxes used of sufficient size for 

 3,000 ova each ; and, as a guide to the quantity 

 found, an English half-pint will contain about 1,200 



