194 THE SEA-TROUT 



numbers of fish found spawning in the streams are practically identical 

 in these two years, yet the rod fishing season of 19 14 was a hopeless 

 failure in Loch Lomond, only half the sea-trout taken in 19 13 having 

 been got by anglers. The inference may, I think, fairly be drawn that 

 poverty of angling results does not necessarily argue a decrease of 

 stock. 



In water with a temperature varying from 40° to 45° F., after the 

 thirtieth day, or possibly a little later, the eyes of the embryo fish may 

 be seen. Perhaps sixty days later the eggs will hatch. Trout may be 

 expected to hatch out in about 70 days altogether with water at the 

 above temperature ; sea-trout in about go days, and salmon in about 

 120 days. All these periods will be protracted in proportion as the 

 weather is colder, so that delay in hatching need not necessarily cause 

 anxiety. Throughout the period of incubation nothing requires to be 

 done but to keep the water constantly flowing, and to maintain a careful 

 watch upon the ova for which purpose the hatchery must be visited 

 daily. A few matters of some practical importance may be referred to 

 as applicable to the present stage. 



Stress has been laid upon the advisability of keeping the eggs in 

 exact uniformity on the glass grilles. The reason is that, so arranged, 

 any speck of foreign matter, and any dead or barren or diseased egg, 

 will be detected at a glance, just as a defect of uniform in a soldier will 

 be detected in a regiment drawn up in line. The eggs are almost as 

 easily examined in the baskets as on the grilles. All one has to do is 

 to take each basket in turn, raise it an inch or so in the water, and press 

 it down firmly again. The water, rushing in through the perforations, 

 will cause the eggs to boil and simmer, and any dead or barren egg, 

 being lighter, will come to the top. So, too, any foreign substance will 

 show up at once in the mass. 



The eggs themselves should never be handled, but arranged and 

 re-arranged under water by means of a stiff feather. A small glass 



