DIRECTIONS FOR PREOIi'-RVATION OF FTTH 
vihat to Collect 
In general the following rule should be applied! Preserve 
all fish that cose Into the net or are taken by other means. Bo not 
throw away or discard specimens that are small, because there are many 
species of fish of which the adults do not reach an inch in total length* 
Formalin Preservation 
(Formalin preservation is recommended instead of 
alcoholic preservation}. 
The specimens of fish when caught should be placed alive, if 
ossible , in a solution of formalin made up by mixing one part of 
commercial formalin with nine parts of water. This solution is of sufficient 
strength to preserve snail fish, up to five Inches in length, in about 
three days, but larger specimens should be left in it for a greater 
length of tine , depending on their siae. All specimens over three inches in 
length should hav •> a small slit made in the side of their abdomen, or 
they should be injected with the formalin preservative. Very large 
flah, a foot or more in length, should have tho formalin not only in- 
jected into their abdomen, but about every two inches in the muscle 
tissue as well, and left in the formalin solution from five to seven 
days, or more. After that time, if it is desired, they can bo trans- 
ferred to water, and the formalin washed out for one or two days, and 
tuen placed in seventy-five per cent alcohol. One precaution should be 
observed, never to crowd the fish in the containers. There should be 
f excess space and they should never '00 placed in the container 
li’-.e sardines are packed in a can. If it is desired to leave the speci- 
mens in formalin indefinitely, they may bo transferred to a weaker solution, 
mde up as follow* One part formalin to fifteen to eighteen parts of 
water, to vhioh have been added two teaspoonfuls of borax to each gallon 
of preservative. This weaker formal la solution la usually of sufficient 
strength to preserve tho fish indefinitely if the container is closed 
t i ■) it ly . . ",l -nya fill t ; ,0 containorn full o f lie u i d . 
Alcohol i c lores ervation 
— I ri.mi, ■ »» , „ mum m*.* ** — W— l 
Specimens should be placed while alive, if possible, into thirty- 
five per cent alcohol and within half a day they should be placed in 
seventy-five per cent alcohol* If the specimens are at all crowded the 
alcohol should be poured off and fresh seventy-five per cent alcohol 
added the next day. If specimens become soft, then another change of 
aleoh >1 should be made, using seventy-five per cent again. In general. 
