146 1 Flow to obtain it. 
but “practice makes perfect,” and the writer has spawned and 
impregnated the ova from a hundred and forty trout in the 
comparatively short space of about an hour. This, taking into 
account the changing of the dishes and other little delays, is 
pretty quick work, yet the whole is done without any hurry or 
excitement ; indeed, nothing is more undesirable than to perform 
the work too hurriedly, although, at the same time, expedition is 
of vital importance. 
Having spawned a number of females into one dish, a batch 
of males is handed in a net by an attendant, and a couple of good 
milters taken, which is quite sufficient. These are somewhat 
similarly treated, the milt being expelled upon the eggs, and both 
eggs and milt are gently mixed by an undulating motion of the 
dish, aided slightly by the hand. Water is then added, and the 
mixing process is repeated, and the dish allowed to stand until the 
eggs have separated. At first they cling together, adhering not 
only to each other but to the dish itself, sometimes for a few 
minutes and occasionally for an hour or more, according to the 
temperature. On separating they must be well and carefully 
washed until all effete milt is cleared away. They are then placed 
upon the grilles in the hatching boxes, a number sufficient to fill 
each grille being poured out of a measure, which holds just the 
right quantity. They are poured from the measure so as to form 
several little heaps on each grille, and these heaps are roughly 
spread by means of a feather, care being taken that it does not 
touch the ova. The grille is then raised slightly, both hands 
being used in the operation. Then, by means of a slight shake, 
giving the grille a motion soon acquired by practice, the eggs are 
made to arrange themselves in rows very prettily, and they can be 
accurately and quickly counted. 
Tn the old days there was often a difficulty in getting milters, 
and even to the present time, collectors of ova from wild fish have 
often to be content with such milters as they can get. It will be 
seen what a great advantage it is to have a large number of well- 
bred and selected male fish in a pond by themselves, so that a 
haul of the net brings to bank several hundreds of them. Out of 
this number the best fish can be selected and sent up to the 
spawning house, where operations are being carried on. From a 
