fish Culture. 
PRACTICAL FISH CULTURE. 
NUMBER THREE. 
—_— + 
The Dry Method. 

ee ee Se 
Shee is comparatively a new process in this country, 
or rather, new to most fish breeders, as it is claimed 
that some of them used so small a quantity of water as to 
almost entitle them to call it dry impregnation, before the 
discovery was announced in America, but the first public 
announcement of this process was made in the New York 
Citizen of May 27th, 1871, by Mr. George Shepard Page, of 
New York, who caused an account of the experiments of 
M. Vrasski, at Nikolsk, Russia, to be translated. These 
experiments were made in 1856, and therefore the Russian 
was fifteen years in advance of us on this point; and al- 
though the writer does not accord it as high a place among 
Piscicultural discoveries as others have done, who have 
predicted that it would be universally adopted and entirely 
revolutionize the manner of taking spawn, which, by the 
way, it has not done at present writing, for of those who 
take trout spawn by hand at present, I do not know of more 
than two who practice it in all its dryness, and they are a 
little enthusiastic on this subject. The writer was employ- 
ed by Mr. Green last spring on the Hudson, and water was 
always placed in the pan before stripping the shad, and 
although Mr. Green uses water in the manipulation of sal- 
mon-trout, it is small in quantity, as it always has been 
with him; hence, his success, which was wondered at by 
those who drowned their milt in a panful, as did M. Vrasski 
in his first experiments. 
In order to fully understand the principle of dry impreg- 
nation, it will be necessary to glance at the construction of 
the egg and the vitalizing principle of the milt. 
The egg is provided with two coats or membranes, the 
inner one enclosing the yolk, and between this and the outer 
one is the space that fills with water, milt, or both, as the 
case may be, which causes the egg to ‘‘free,” as mentioned 
in the last article. This outer covering is provided with a 
funnel-shaped opening, called the micropyle, through which 
fluids are absorbed. 
The milt contains numberless pin-shaped filaments, which, 
as they are endowed with motion, I have called animalcule, 
for the use of which term Mr. Charles Bell took me to task 
before the American Fish Culturists’ Association. They 
are known to science as spermatozoa, or zodsperms, and 
Mr. Bell quotes Dalton so effectively that I am certain that 
I will never commit so grave an error again as to call zo- 
dsperms ‘‘animalcule.” 
Claiming, as I do, nothing but practical knowledge, an 
error in scientific nomenclature, especially in physiological 
science, may readily be forgiven. Mr. Bell says:— 
““T will submit the evidence on both sides to the Associa- 
tion, and they shall decide, not whether we shall call them 
‘zodsperms’ or ‘animalcule,’ but whether they are living 
animals or simply shreds of albumen.” 
‘The following extract is from Dr. Dalton’s ‘‘ Treatise on 
Physiology,” published in Boston in 1859 :— 
‘“‘The most remarkable peculiarity of the spermatozoa is 
their very singular and active movements, to which we 
have already alluded. Ifadrop of fresh seminal fluid be 
placed under the microscope, the numberless minute fila- 
ments of which it is composed are seen to be in a state of 
incessant and agitated motion; this movement of the sper- 
matozoa, in many species of animals, strongly resembles 
that of the tadpole. * * * The tail-like filament keeps 
up a lateral and vibratory motion, by which the spermato- 
zoon is driven from place to [place in the spermatic fluid, 
just as a fish or tapole is propelled through the water. In 
other instances, as for example, in the water lizard, the 
spermatozoa~have a writhing or spiral-like movement, 
which presents a very peculiar and elegant appearance 
when large numbers of them are viewed together; it is the 
existence of this movement that first suggested the name of 
spermatozoa to designate the animated filaments of the 
spermatic fluid, and which has led some writers to attribute 
to them an independant animal nature. This is, however, 
a very erroneous mode of regarding them, since they can- 
not properly be considered as animals, notwithstanding the 
active character of their movement, and the striking re- 
semblance which it sometimes presents to a voluntary act. 
ada ye tk, Me. AS 2 
It is the entrance of this zodsperm, while still active, into 
‘the micropyle that fecundates the egg, and its introduction 
to water stimulates it to greater activity for a moment or 
two, after which it dies. 
The following extract from the article referred to in the 
Citizen, tells how it was discovered :— = 
‘In his experiments, M. Vrasski had followed the coun- 
sels given in French and German works on pisciculture; 
but the results obtained were far from being brilliant. In 
reality he obtained at each hatching but an insignificant 
number. ‘From many thousands of eggs,’ said he in one 
of his letters, ‘there were only some dozens of young fry. 
The rest of the eggs were spoiled and lost for want of hav- 
ing been impregnated. I have, however, observed with 
scrupulous exactness all the directions given by the man- 
uals with a view to fecundation.’ 
In the autumn of 1856, M. Vrasski was occupied with the 
microscopic study of the eggs and milt, and kept a journal 
in which he registered the least circumstances and incidents 
relative to each fecundation that he effected. Two months 
of persistent efforts brought the desired results. Pebne 
journal and the microscope proved to him that the cause of 



FOREST AND STREAM. 
his failure proceeded precisely from the exact observation 
of all the counsels of the foreign manuals. It is necessary 
for fecundation that the spermatozoa of the milt of the 
male should penetrate the eggs of the female. In order to 
do this, the manuals recomended receiving the eggs in a 
vessel of water; afterwards, to receive in another vessel of 
water the milt of the male; and lastly, to turn the diluted 
milt on to the eggs. By his journal, kept with scrupulous 
exactness, M. Vrasski convinced himself that the fecunda- 
tion Was so much the less complete according as the mix- 
ture of the milt and the eggs had been most delayed. If 
ten minutes elapsed between obtaining the milt and the 
mixing of it with the eggs, the fecundation failed almost 
entirely. His observations and the microscopic researches 
of the eggs and the milt showed that first, when received in 
water at the instant of issuing from the fish, the eggs ab- 
sorb tle water and preserve the power of being impregnated 
only as long as this absorption is not finished; that is-to 
say, during a half hour at the utmost. Once saturated 
with water, the eggs do not absorb any spermatozoa; but if 
received into dry vessels on issuing from the fish, the eggs 
remain, on the contrary, for a sufficient time in a neutral 
state, and do not lose the power, when once put into water, 
of receiving the spermatozoa. 
Second, the spermatozoa of the milt, in falling into the 
water, commence immediately, with much vigor and rap-. 
idity, to make movements, which only last, however, for a 
minute and a half, or two at the most; when this time is 
elapsed, only in some few spermatozoa can there be seen 
particular movements and agonised convulsions. When at 
the issuing from the male fish, the milt is received in a dry 
vessel, it does not change for many hours, and during this 
interval the spermatozoa do not lose the power of beginning 
to move when they find themselves in contact with water. 
Closed in a dry tube and well corked, the milt preserved its 
impregnating virtue during six days. 
From these observations, as also from the fact that the 
eggs, as well as the milt, are obtained slowly, their entire 
mass not being able to issue at once, M. Vrasski arrived at 
the conclusion that when they were received in water the 
greater part of the eggs attempted to saturate themselves 
with water, and the spermatozoa almost ceased to move 
before it was possible for the fish breeder to mix the eggs 
with the diluted water. M. Vrasski adopted then the sys 
tem of dry vessels, and turned the milt on the eggs imme- 
diately he put them in water, 
The success was complete; all the eggs were impregnated 
without one exception.” 
It is very evident that if those French and German man- 
uals that M. Vrasski consulted are the best authorities that 
the student of pisciculture can obtain in those countries, 
that it is time they were revised. 
Taking spawn and milt in different vessels, diluting them 
with water and mixing! and even after standing in water 
separate for a space of ten minutes they failed to impreg- 
nate ! ! he evidently would not be called an expert operator, 
and probably is not now if he still says ‘‘the eggs and milt 
are obtained slowly,” but he certainly deserves much credit 
for his perseverance to final success under such bad teach- 
ing. From his experiments it is shown that the egg is cap- 
able of being impregnated for about half an hour after be- 
ing taken from the fish, while the milt will lose its vitality 
in about two minutes; therefore, those who practice this 
method should be able to strip a hundred or more female 
fish, and getting a water pail full of eggs proceed to impreg- 
nate them by wholesale with a few males. They claim 
that it does not hurt the eggs to fall like peas into a dry 
pan, and perhaps it does not, but how about sudden 
changes of temperature, such as will generally occur under 
such circumstances? 
In a hatching house where a fire can be had, if required, 
there is little danger; but there are often circumstances 
under which such a luxury cannot be obtained, as, for in- 
stance, when spawning wild fish from a stream, 
I do not hesitate to say that if I were taking spawn by 
hand I would not use the dry or Russian method, as it is 
sometimes called, for I have never liked it; it seems like 
crowding nature too hard; and as for its boasted advan- 
tages of time saved, and eggs impregnated, I doubt if they 
can be demonstrated by actual experiment, to be superior to 
the use of a little water. 
All that has been written, as far as my observation has 
extended, has extolled the wonderful new method of im- 
pregnation; but I know some of the very best operators 
who take large quantities of spawn by hand, use waterstill. 
I regard it as a natural reaction of those referred to as 
“drowning their milt,” from one extreme to the other, 
Take water enough in the pan to cover the eggs; strip a 
female or tivo and then a good male; give the pan a tip to 
thoroughly mix the milt and water; and if your ingredients 
are good, that is fully ripe and properly handled, you will 
find the impregnation good. 
There may emergencies arise, as, for instance, if milt is 
plentiful to-day and may possibly be scarce to-morrow, it 
could be kept alive with its vitality unimpaired until re- 
quired; as to the exact length of time that it can beso kept, 
authorities differ—some claiming five and others ten days; 
temperature undoubtedly has more or less influence upon 
its keeping qualities, which point might possibly be found 
midway between the extremes of heat and cold that it 
can eudure alive. 
That milt can be sent in a vial by mail or express with- 
out injury to the zodsperms from concussions likely to be 
received, has been suggested; but I do not remember to 
have seen any account of its being done, and so brought to 
the test of actual experiment; and if any trout-breeder 
323 
wishes to try it, I will gladly exchange a vial with him, and 
we will count the eggs, place them by themselves and note 
the exact percentage of impregnation; then, if we succeed, 
we will have demonstrated what is at present but theory. 
The milt can be taken in a homeopathic vial, which can be 
securely packed in cotton in a small box, or block of wood 
and sent by mail,.with the day and hour of its taking care- 
fully noted, as well as the exact time of its introduction to 
the eggs. 
In regard to the proper kind of pan for impregnating, I 
know of nothing better than tin? last summer, at the shad- 
hatching grounds on the Hudson, Seth Green sent for trial 
some of -the new paper pans, which are yellow or coated 
with some yellow varnish. This was before I joined the 
party, as they were banished after a trial or two. Mr. 
Monroe A. Green, who was in command, declared that 
they killed the spawn, whereupon he got out his tin ones 
that he knew were reliable. The same authority condemns 
galvanised iron, both for spawn and young fish; yet there 
are some who make transporting tanks of it. I give this to 
show how opinions vary, but never having had any ex- 
perience with anything but tin, which is good, I cannot 
speak authoritively. ‘ Frep. Mater. 
Che Kennel. 
——__4—____, 
DISTEMPER IN DOGS. 



le is generally supposed that this calamity was first mtro- 
duced into this country from France. It is the great 
scourge of the canine race, and very few dogs escape it al- 
together. The best preventive that we know of is to avoid 
anything that will produce debility, or low poor diet, ex- 
posure to cold, wet and damp sleeping kennels. 
Mr. Vyner, a very clever and practical writer on this sub- 
ject says: Be beforehand with the disease if you can, and 
upon the first symptom, which is‘a dry cough or husk at- 
tended with a loss of appetite and lassitude, give the fol- 
lowing pills, to a small dog one pill, but to a large dog two 
pills. Always remember there is a vast difference between 
a terrier and a hound. Each pill should contain of calomel 
three grains, compound powder of antimony, four grains, 
camphor half adrachm. Give one at daylight and tie the 
dog’s head up for three hours, if he is strong enough to 
stand so long, if he is weak he must be watched by a trusty 
person to see if he throws off his pill, andif he does he 
must have another. Work this off in four or five hours 
with a dose of castor oil. If the dog is much purged omit 
the pill and oil for one night, and then dose again as before. 
Keep on with this remedy till a change takes place for 
the better, such as absence of fever and increased strength, 
but do not weaken him with too strong purges. The dog 
must be fed from the beginning, if he refuses his food, 
with a spoon on the best beef or mutton broth, with a lit- 
tle bred crumbled into it, or he will become so week that 
ze will die of exhaustion. This must be done every two or 
three hours or he will die. He must be kept cool (not cold) 
dry, sheltered and comfortable, with plenty of ventilation. 
If his eyes are much affected, put aseton in the back of 
his neck. If too much purged feed also on arrow-root or 
flour porridge, and if he is very ill with a violent diarrhea, 
give him an ounce of balm or yeast, but if taken in time 
he will not want it. 
If with the above treatment, with strict attention to feed- 
ing the dog well upon good light, but nourishing and whole- 
some food, and at the same time keeping cool and dry, if 
he does not recover I fear in vain must his owner seek 
otherwise for relief. Many young hounds die of absolute 
exhaustion, after the worst stages of the disease are passed 
from cruel neglect and idleness, when a little attention to 
merely giving them nutritious food and strengthening 
medicine might undoubtedly have saved their lives. The 
following pill given to puppies recovering from distemper, 
and also to older dogs which have been debilitated in their 
constitution I have frequently found to have the very 
best effect. Take of quinine twenty-four grains, gentian 
powder half ounce, bark powder half ounce, cinnamon 
powders one and a half drachm, sulphuric acid eight drops, 
one to be given every morning.”’ 
st i 
—Mr. R. C. F. of Baltimore, writes to us asking whether 
the progeny of an ordinary bred, but thoroughly broken dog 
is better than the progeny of a thorough bred entirely un- 
broken dog? Answer. The puppies of an ordinary bred 
but thoroughly broken dog, would inherit ordinary breed, 
and give extra trouble, care, pains and expense to break 
and train them. Then you would only have a breed of third- 
class dogs. While the progeny of a thorough bred entirely 
unbroken dog, would at least inherit a thorough breed, and 
therefore the whelps would require scarcely any breaking 
or training especially if they were taken out in the field 
along with their mother. Then you would have a first- 
class breed of dogs. The natural instinct of the dog, that 
is to say (we are assuming them to be pointers or setters) 
is to stand rigid in position on the scent of game birds, is 
handed down from generation to generation. . The break- 
ing, training, ranging, is more or less taught after the pup- 
pies have attained the age of maturity, and lies dormant to 
a great extent, until the instinct is exercised and educated 
by the dog trainer. 
OS oo 
Noticz.—Owing to the holidays there has been some 
little delay in preparing the Portrait of the English Cham- 
pion Pointer ‘‘Belle.”” We will send it as soon as it is per- 
fected. 
