Sperm are added periodically as the eggs are being stripped because sperm are motile for only 1 to 2 minutes, and the eggs begin to water-harden as soon as they come in contact with water. Water-hardening may prevent the sperm from entering the egg. This technique is best accomplished with 2 or 3 workers to efficiently remove eggs and and mix in sperm at the same time. The main advantage of this method is that urine and drugs may be diluted before contact with eggs, minimizing any deleterious effects. The dry method of spawning striped-bass females is accomplished by manually stripping the eggs into a dry, clean container.
Care is taken to keep water from the container until after sperm has been added.
Sperm from several males is mixed in thoroughly. Water is then added to mobilize sperm and fertilization is completed within 2 minutes. The dry method is used when stripping eggs from white bass females. White bass eggs are adhesive and unless treated, successful incubation is difficult. The actual amount of time eggs must be kept in tannic acid depends upon the alkalinity and hardness of the water.