How to obtain it. 153 
from which it is soon removed unhurt. But the novice is as 
likely to send it into the spawning dish as anywhere, and a few 
struggles there will send the eggs flying in all directions. 
The cleanliness of all apparatus used is of vital importance, 
and much of the success of the undertaking depends upon it. A 
clean and perfectly dry spawning dish and clean hands are most 
desirable. Take care that the fish are clean also; they will not 
be so if the net be placed on the ground. By retaining them in 
nets which can be lifted bodily they are in excellent condition for 
handling, and the water is shaken off them -before the handling 
commences. Notwithstanding all precautions it is impossible to 
prevent a drop or two getting into the spawning dish occasionally, 
but avoid it as much as possible, as the dryer the eggs are kept, 
until the milt has been added to them, the better. A beginner is 
anxious to know how long the eggs should remain in the dish with 
the milt. This depends chiefly on temperature ; when they cease 
to adhere to each other, or to the dish, they may be washed, and 
this may be in ten minutes. Do not on any account wash them 
too soon. It is better to leave them for a couple of hours than 
to disturb them before they are ready. A little experience here 
is better than a good deal of theory. 
If the day be warm and the temperature of the water 50° 
Fahrenheit there will not be a long time to wait, but shouid it be 
freezing hard and the water at 33° or 34, then the time will be 
much longer. Take care not to drown the eggs with milt. They 
will take no harm standing in the dish for twelve hours after being 
washed, but they may suffer if the milt be left on them. I have 
frequently taken ova in the afternoon of one day, washed it, and 
allowed it to stand all night in bowls; and taken it over to the 
hatchery next morning to be laid on the grilles. Milters should 
always be carefully selected, and no fish that are in any way 
deformed should be used for breeding purposes. Many deformities 
are more or less hereditary, as has been proved in the case of 
other animals, and it is better to avoid them. Although experi- 
ments have been tried with the result that ova from deformed fish 
have apparently produced well-formed healthy fish, yet the 
reverse has also been ascertained to be the case. The result of 
“in breeding,” too, is most disastrous, and change of blood and 
