Trout Breedins. 



63 



as fast as possible, for she is becoming faint and may 

 need a rest in the tub if you are too long about it. If 

 you have a helper, let him strip a male or two at the 

 same time, right over the eggs ; if alone, strip a male 

 and then add just water enough to cover the eggs and 

 let them stand for a few minutes and add as much more 

 water. 



The milt of the male contains microscopic organ- 

 isms called spermatozoa, which lie quiescent until they 



Spawning Funnel, to strip fish. in, to prevent their slipping 

 aTnOng the eggs in pan below.' 



strike water, when they begin to" be active, but die in 

 three ta five minutes afterward. The eggs are soft 

 and flabby when they come from the female, because 

 there is a loose outer coat which has a funnel-shaped 

 orifice in it, which is called the micropyle. Through 

 this the e.gg absorbs water, and if that water is heavily 

 charged with milt a spermatozoon is likely to enter and 

 the egg is fertilized. In twenty or thirty minutes the 

 egg will have absorbed all it can, and if not impreg- 



