The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-10

the manner Of procreation as are crest-
ures Of the land.
Among the several varieties of fish now
Matched artifcially IL has been discovered
that both the brook and the lake species
Of the trout family yield a greater num-
Der Of nalformations than any others.
The abnormal forms brought forth are
singular and various. the most common
being those with two heads and one
tail. and double fish, or twins. connected
by means of the yo1k sac-veritable STA
mese twins in fish life. Trout fry having
three heads are extremely rare, and out
Of the millions / have seen Matched arti-
ficiaiiy have observed but a single speci-
men. Although monstrositfes with two
heads are quite freaentiy discovered. still
II Is somewhat singular TO note that an In
dividual with two tails and one head has
never to my knowledge made its appear
ance. the abnormal development mostly
tending toward an excess of heads Fry
having curvatures Of the backbone are
frequently discovered, so that in attempt
Ing to swim they describe circle. and
they are sometimes coiIed up so tightly
as to be unable to make any progress
whatever. As soon as the yoik sac at
tached to their bodies, which sustains
them. is absorbed. all deformed fish then
die Of starvation. being unable to forage
for food This Is undoubtedly as 1t was
ficially have invariably proved futile.
Another curiosity which Is sometimes
seen among fish fry Is the aibino-as per-
feet as could possibly be imagined pure
white with pink eyes. These are quite
rare. probably not more than one in 1000
occasions they were kept at the Gale
donia hatchery for quite time, and
three or four were raised to 2-year-oI1s.
Finally all but one were caught by king
fishers. Being white, they were much
easier to be seen than the other trout.
thus falling an easy prey. The remain
ing one was kept until . years old when,
unfortunately, II died. II was a female,
and 800 eggs had been taken from her,
q good percentage Of which Matched. the
fry showing no difference from the ordi-
nary brook trout
A recent report Of the United States
nsh and fishery commission has this to
say relative to the discovery OF malforma-
lions In this family. II bears out the
statement made above that "the CHIEF
cause of malformations Is impeded or re-
tsrded development"
THE normal spawning period OF this
fish IL from November to December l.
At one Of the stations on Lake Erie. In
order 20 increase the collection OF white
fish eggs. large numbers Of fish were
penned or placed in suitable live boxes
spawning condition. The last fish to be
removed from the live boxes being six
m number we're held In fry tanks at the
station until December a. when the fe-
males were found to be ready to cast
their eggs. The eggs were fertlixed
with the milt from one of the males. and
presented very good appearance. al
though they were a little understood.
In due course of time they were exam
ined, when II was found that 80 per cent.
OF them were impregnated. The eggs
were examined some days later, when 1t
was found that 10 per cent. OF them
plainly showed weli-defined twin disks,
and three triplet disks were discovered
out OF 500 eggs examined II may be
stated that no twin disks were found
among other lots examined. although
after the above experience II was con-
hdently expected to find them. Never
before has a twin disk been observed
IN whitsfish egg. and only three were
found this season. outside the lot under
observation. On January rs two we'll
defined double-headed embryos were dis
covered. after which they were found
In numbers, though very few OF them had
two perfect heads. and there were no
well-marked twins--that is. bodies en-
urely separated, except by their attach
ment TO the yolk sac, as II so common
with trout. Most or the monstrosities
had one normal and one abnormal head.
The superintendent OF the station In
consultation with Prof. Jacob Reighart].
Of the University OF Michigan, learned
that In his opinion the large number OF
abnormalities found among these eggs
was caused by their being held long past
their normal time OF deposit His ex-
perfence showed that this II likely 70 he
the case with ampAibians held in conflne
ment."
II is said with human beings the rela-
ton Is about to 3e0 births. l think
this Is \ much larger percentage than