Cold Storage of Milt from Four Species of Flatfish

The proper conditions for cold storage of milt in four species of flatfish were investigated. Various diluents were tested for the preservation of marbled sole, brown sole, starry flounder and olive flounder milt at $1\pm0.5^{\circ}C$ for 7 days. The most effective diluent was $1\%$ NaCl for marbled sole and Stein's extender for brown sole, starry flounder and olive flounder. After 7 days of storage in different dilution ratios (milt: diluent), marbled sole milt diluted with 1:3-10 and brown sole, starry flounder and olive flounder milt diluted 1:1-10 maintained good sperm activity index (SAI). SAI was affected by storage volume and presence of antibiotic. SAI was lower after 7 days storage in the volume of 1.5 mL than in 0.5 or 1.0 mL. SAI after 29 days storage was markedly enhanced by addition of antibiotic in marbled sole (400 ppm gentamicin, 400 ppm neomycin, 200-400 ppm streptomycin), brown sole (600 ppm gentamicin), starry flounder (1,000 ppm gentamicin) and olive flounder (200-1,000 ppm gentamicin, 200-400 ppm neomycin, 200-1,000 ppm streptomycin).