The anesthetic effect of MS-222 and eugenol on Coilia nasus Schlegel juvenile fish was investigated. The exposure time in air of juvenile fish was determined under the safe concentrations of the two anesthetics. The transport test of young fish was conducted by using the suitable concentration of the two anesthetics. The results indicated: (1) The suitable concentrations of MS-222 and eugenol were 150 mg/L and 30 mg/L, respectively. (2) The suitable exposure time in air was below 4 min after the deep anesthesia at the MS-222 concentration of 150 mg/L, the suitable exposure time in air was below 5 min after the deep anesthesia at the eugenol concentration of 30 mg/L. (3) The recovery rate and survival rate of the cultural Coilia nasus Schlegel young fish were both 100% after treating with 30 mg/L MS-222 and 8 mg/L eugenol,respectively. There were significant differences between test group and the control both in MS-222 and eugenol, respectively (P<0.05).