1. Reservoir. 2. Shoot through which water is discharged. 3. Trough to catch the water before it passes into the box. 4. Perforated zinc. 5. Shoot to discharge water.

can be multiplied, one above the other, ad infinitum. Figure 1 indicates the hands of the operator placing in the frame-work of glass rods, upon which the eggs are left to hatch. The lower tank (Figure 2) represents the fresh eggs resting upon the gravel. The water from the top above must be flowing incessantly, but gently. Boards should be fitted on the tops of the troughs while the eggs are being developed. The tanks can be made of zinc, two feet long, five inches wide, four inches deep, with one side of glass. Figure 3 represents the catcher, a useful instrument for moving the eggs without touching them. Place the finger on the end of the straight part of the tube, immerse it in the water, and bring the lower end opposite the egg or impurity you wish to remove. When the finger is withdrawn the water rushes into the tube, and with it the object you wish to withdraw. Figure 4 represents a net of common wire, for catching the young fish. This in-door apparatus can be fixed up almost anywhere under cover, except in a hot greenhouse.

These examples of hatching-boxes will suffice, and the accounts, given in the words of their describers and illustrated, will convey a clear idea of the objects to be kept in view in the construction of such apparatus. It will be understood that the details in their arrangement are susceptible of considerable modifications, and many patterns have been described, but they offer no material difference. The requisites are an appropriate bed for the deposit of the spawn, a running stream of clear water, so as not to allow sediment to settle or a confervous vegetation to exist, as that would kill the ova; and protection from enemies must finally be provided for.

ARTIFICIAL SPAWNING BEDS.

While artificial fecundation apparently fulfils the chief requisites for the propagation of some fishes, such as the salmonids, there are others for which it cannot be employed with equal advantage. Nature has, in such cases, been assisted by the preparation of places suitable for the deposit of the ova and milt of the fishes which it is desired to propagate, and by the preparation for such of beds which will be instinctively resorted to by them. This practice has been especially employed in France, and has been very recently advocated by the celebrated academician, M. E. Blanchard, professor at the museum of natural history, &c., in an excellent work on the fresh-water fishes of France. The obvious advantages resulting from the exposition of an author's own words, induce the writer to submit a translation from M. Blanchard's work, as well as a copy of the figure illustrating his description.

"In view of the present condition of the rivers and canals of France, the idea of artificial spawning beds would appear to be a most happy one. M. Millet, before the Society of Acclimatization, has insisted, with great earnestness, on the preference to be given, in many cases, to artificial spawning beds over artificial fecundation. M. Coste has justly remarked that artificial fecundation is not all-sufficient, and yet, a contrary opinion is generally prevalent. No one has forgotten the marvellous results which we were to obtain by means of artificial fecundation; fishes, left to themselves, could not thrive and have a numerous progeny. Their duties should be assumed by us, and the advantages would be incalculable. More than fifteen years have elapsed since these seductive announcements were made, without having yet furnished brilliant results.

"Among fishes, some, as the salmon, deposit their ova in slight excavations, in gravel, or in the interstices between stones; others, as the perches and cyprinids, (carp, bream, roach, &c.,) attach their ova, agglutinated together by means of a viscid matter, to aquatic plants, stones, or any bodies to which their eggs can be fixed. It is especially for the last that artificial spawning beds might sometimes be advantageously prepared.

The construction of an artificial spawning bed is a very simple matter. A framework of sticks or laths should be made, and to such framework, boughs,