The goldfish and its systematic culture with a view to profit

Front matter

AKD ITS

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Preface

/'I' HERE are not many, if any, homes in the country or suburbs ^ of large cities where fish culture could not be indulged in, either as an agreeable pastime or with a view of realizing an income from it.

Being accidentally drawn into the culture of ornamental fish through a genuine love of Natural History, I have, for the past ten years, given it my exclusive attention.

The originality of the method I describe in the following pages I claim as my own, and it has been my earnest endeavor to speak plainly and to the point, giving the full results of my long experience, not intentionally withholding any facts or secrets that would in any way have a bearing upon the success of the business.

This method has the decided advantage of applying equally to the culture of goldfish, no matter upon what scale it is carried on, whether the establishment is intended to produce hundreds of thousands of fish annually, or be engaged in with limited means by the deserving widow or invalid who wishes to add something to a restricted income.

With these objects in view, and to promote a more thorough knowledge of the goldfish, as well as to stimulate the study of Natural History, I have made every exertion, and should my efforts meet with the approval of an intelligent public, I shall consider that I have not labored in vain.

HUGO MULERTT.

CINCINNATI, O., July, 1883.

Preface To The New Edition

Manvfold indeed were the acknowledgments of the usefulness of this little volume. It has been translated abroad in four different languages, and it is to-day used all over the civilized world and acknowledged authority on the subject upon which it treats. The scores of letters which I received from all parts of the world, applauding my method, are proof that the volume as it is, is a reliable guide.

Only a few important additions, but no corrections, appeared to be necessary for this new edition.

HUGO MULERTT.

Brooklyn, N. Y., March, 1896.

Chapter I

The History of The Goldfish. —Its Origin. Goldfish Keeping in China. Goldfish Markets in Chinese and Japanese Cities. The Introduction of the Goldfish into Europe. Productiveness of Same in Southern Europe. The Goldfish in the U. S. Degeneration of Same. Introduction of New Varieties. Annual sale of Goldfish in this Country. Competition from Europe 5

Chapter IT.

The Common Goldfish. — Its Scientific name. Natural History. The Size. The Age. The Food. Maturity of the Goldfish. Mode of Reproduction. The First Stages of the Young. The Coloring of their Skin. Important Facts regarding the Same. External Influences. Growth of Goldfish. Deformities. Enemies and Diseases : 9

Chapter III

Japanese Goldfishes. — Their Relation to the Common Goldfish. Japanese Classification. The Telescope. Origin of its Name. Its Color. Difficulty in Spawning. Reason for their Scarcity. The Fringe-tail. Its Characteristics. Its Development. Variation in Markings. Their Eyes. The pure Strain secure. Difficulties in Raising them. The Fantail. The Peculiarity of the Caudal Fin. Advantage of Double-tailed Fish. The Comet. The Nymph. The Ramsnose. The Hognose. Size attained by Japanese Goldfishes 14

Chapter IV

Chinese Goldfishes. — Their Distinction in Colors. The Mottled Beauty. The Superb. The Small Blue. The Moor, or Darkey. The Piebald. The Ruby. The Redfin. The Tumbler. The Elegant. The Cross of Lorraine 20

Iv CONTENTS.

Chapter V

About Fish-ponds in General. — Distinction of the Name. Reason for the Establishment of Ponds. The Monks as Fish-culturists. Profitableness of Pond-culture. The German Carp. Old Establishments. Largest Fish-ponds on the Globe. Necessity of Pond-culture in the United States. Consumption of food fishes in this Country. Reason for it. Riches of the Rivers in former Days. Pisciculture compared with Agriculture. Culture of Ornamental Fish 25

Chapter VI

The Construction of Ponds for Goldfish Culture. — The Different kinds of Ponds. The Value of a Pond. Location or Site for the Ponds. Arranging the Ponds Advantageously. JWays of Constructing a Pond. Ponds for Different Purposes. The Number of them. Spawning, Rearing, Storage and Winter Ponds. Depth of the Same. The Dams. Their Construction. The Inlet. The Outlet. Its Construction. The Water Supply. The Supply Channel 29

Chapter VII

The Author's Establishment. — Illustration. Description 35

Chapter VIII

The Propagating Bed. — Construction of the Same. Economical use of Materials. Advantages of a False Bottom. Location of the Bed. The Nursery.

The Rearing Pond. — The Size of it. The Water Level. Circulation of the Water. Plants for the Pond.

The Storage Pond. — Its Purposes.

The Winter Pond. — Its Construction and Requirements. Other Winter Quarters 37

Chapter IX

The Anatomy and Physiology of the Goldfish. — The Scales. The Fins. The Gills. The Heart. The Voice. The Air-bladder. The Stomach. The Eyes. Hearing. The Act of Sleeping. Taste. Smell. Reproduction. Female Organs. The Ovary. The Oviduct. The Male. The Spermatic Organs. The Spermatazoa. The Egg. The Fecundation of the Egg. The Development of the Embryo. The Perfect Fish. The Yolk-bag 45

CONTENTS. V

Chapter X

Propagation. — Classification of Fish. Artificial Impregnation of the Eggs. Natural Impregnation. The Main Points in Goldfish Culture..

Selection of Breeders. — The Season. The Condition of the Fish. Their Health, Shape, Color, and Habits. The Distinction of the Sexes. Sterile Goldfish. Number for a Set. Size. Age 51

Chapter XI

Preparing the Spawning Bed. — Material to catch the Spawn. Catching Spawn in Open Waters. Duration of the Spawning Season. Lengthening of the Same. Re-mating the Breeders 56

Chapter XII

Care of the Eggs. — Advantages of an Early Season. Gathering the Eggs. The Incubating or Hatching Jar. Quota of Eggs to the Jar. Location during Hatching. Time required for Incubation. Temperature of the Water. The Advantage of Hatching in Jars 58

Chapter XIII

First Care of the Young. — Preparing the Nursery. Removal of the Young to the Nursery. Protection against Enemies. Transferring to the Rearing Pond. Manner of Catching and Handling the Fish. Temperature of the Water during the Change. Time Required 60

Chapter XIV

Setting out the Young Fish. — Filling the Pond. Natural Food contained in the Water. Appearance of injurious Insects. Precaution necessary in Setting out the Young. Number of Young to each Pond. Time required for Growth and Coloring. Fish-culture in the Parlor. Hatching in a glass Tumbler. Spawning in an Aquarium 62

Chapter XV

Care of the Ponds. — Condition of the Water. Time of Supplying the Ponds with Water. The Supply Drain. Grass and Weeds on the Dams. Removing extraneous Matter. Cleaning out the Ponds. Care of the Ponds in the Winter. Changes to be made 64

Chapter XVI

Fishing the Ponds. — Draining off the Water. Removing the Fish. Assorting them. Caution in Handling.

Domesticating the Fish. — The Fish in the Storage Pond. The Gradual Change of Diet. The Quality of the Food. Domestication Completed. Caution to be observed near the Ponds 66

\ i CONTENTS.

Chapter XVII. (are of Fish in Stores. — Manners of Keeping them. The Supply of Oxygen in the Water. Plants the means of Producing it. Location of the Tank. Shape and Construction of the Same. Management of the Tank. Precaution against spread of Disease 68

Chapter XVIII

CARE of Goldfish in Aquaria. — The Vessel for an Aquarium. Fitting up of the same. The Plants. Their purpose in an Aquarium. Ill-behaving Fish. The Quality of Water to be used. Scavengers. Equalizing the Temperature. Number of Fish to a Tank. Quantity of Water Necessary. Stimulation for the Growth of Plants. The Subject of Food. Best Temperature for an Aquarium. The use of Ice. Changing the Water of an Aquarium. In the Country. In the City. Difference of Taste Regarding the Appearance of a Collection. Best location. Ventilation. The Sun. Keeping Goldfish without Plants 70

Chapter XIX

Transportation of Fish. — The Shipping Can. Wooden Jacket Can. Rules of Express Companies. About Shipping. Filling of the Can. Time of Shipment. Delay while in the Hands of Express Companies. Bucket for Shipment. Shipping to great Distances. Transatlantic Shipping Can. Rules for Shipment. Treatment of Fish while en route. The Same when arriving in Bad Condition 77

Part IV

Enemies and Diseases of the Goldfish. Requisites, Tools, etc. Chapter XX.

The Enemies of the Goldfish. — Goldfish Destroy their own Eggs. The Pond Snail. The Water Asell. The Water Flea. The Boat-fly. Its Destructiveness. Other Varieties. The Yellow-banded Water Beetle. Its Larva. The Black Water Beetle. Its Cocoon. Its Grub. How to destroy them. The Dragon-flies. Libellula. Aeshma. Agrion. Their Copulation. Mode of Depositing their Eggs. Their Grubs. Their Destruction and Enemies.

S3

Chapter XXI

The Enemies of the Goldfish, Continued. — The Crawfish. Its Destructive Habits. The Frogs. Useful and Destructive Varieties. Indirect Injuries from their Tadpoles. How to Destroy them. Protecting the Toad. Difference of their Spawn. The Water Spider. Salamanders and Newts. Their

CONTENTS. VII

Tadpoles Destructive. Adults harmless to Man. Water-snakes. Safest way to Destroy them. A Snake-trap. Cranes and Herons. Their Mode of Fishing. The Kingfisher. Turtles and Alligators. The Musk-rat. Their Destructiveness. How to set a Trap for them. The Raccoon. The Mink. The Duck. The Goose. The Swan. The House-rat. The Cat.. 92

Chapter XXII

The Diseases of the Goldfish. — Its Healthy State. Its Sickly State. General Causes of Diseases. Asphyxia. Its Cause. Its Cure. Tuberculosis. The Cause of it. Slime or Itch. Bacteriae, the Cause. Treatment of the Disease. Dropsy. Treatment of Specimens affected with it. Erysipelas. Improper Feeding the Cause. Its Prevention and Cure. Accidents. Assisting Nature in Healing Wounds. Conclusion 99

Chapter XXIII

REQUISITES AND TOOLS. — Dipnets. Glass Jars. Other Necessaries 106

Chapter XXIV

Profitableness of Goldfish Ponds. — Will it Pay? Difference in Markets. Percentage of Young grown to Perfection. Goldfish Culture as Out-door Recreation 107

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Group of Japanese Goldfish, . . . Colored Frontispiece.

The Telescope, . . . . . . 15

The Fringe-tail, . . . . . .17

Longitudinal Section of a Pond, .... 35

The Outlet Pipe, . . . . . -34

Diagram of the Author's Establishment, ... 36

Anatomical Sketch of the Goldfish, . . . .45

Scale from the Lateral Line, .... 46

The Fertilization of the Fish F,gg, . . . .50

The Head of the Male in Breeding Season, ... 54

The Aquarium, . . . . . 71

The Shipping Can, ..... 77

The Water Asell, . . . . . .84

The Water Flea, ...... 84

The Boat Fly, . . . . . .85

The Yellow-banded Water Beetle, .... 86

The Larva of Same,. . . . . . .86

The Black Water-beetle, ..... S7

The Dragon-fly, . . . . .89

The Larva of Same, ..... 85 viii

Chapter I

' ' Every man is a valuable member of society, who, by his observations, researches, and experiments, procures knowledge for men."

Smithson.

THE HISTORY OF THE GOLDFISH.

Long before the principles upon which the success of an aquarium are based were understood, goldfish were kept and tenderly cared for, merely because they are beautiful, and besides being in a sense pets, upon which to lavish much solicitude and attention, served the purpose of an animated ornament, than which it is difficult to find a more beautiful and desirable substitute. The very fact of their being denizens of a different element than that in which the most familiar domestic animals and pets live, served to surround them with a halo of fascination that prompted their admirers to expend upon them any amount of time and pains to keep them in a flourishing condition, and ever ready to be displayed before the chosen guest in the household.

Their wonderful tenacity of life, the gorgeous colors in which they are clothed, both contributed to make them adapted to life in the aquarium and grace the elaborate structures that were framed for the express purpose of displaying them to the best advantage.

The goldfish, we are told, like many other things, originated in China, though, so far as this is concerned, its history is involved in

THE <;<)]. DFisu AND its cn/rrKE.

much obscurity. The first mention we find of it is in the "Arabian Xights' Entertainments," in the story of the Fisherman and the Genii, a story, which like those accompanying it, is of Persian origin. It is, however, frequently represented in the old Chinese paintings, and appears to have been held in great esteem, insomuch as several of the ancient and distinguished families among the Chinese carried it as a component part of the family coat of arms, or as an ornament upon their armor. In short, the goldfish has always been looked upon as a kind of superior being among the finny tribe, the ancients even dedicating it to their well-beloved goddess, Venus.

In China, even at the present day, the goldfish enjoys the admiration of all, and may be seen in almost every house, inhabiting a richly-decorated China bowl, or disporting itself in lakelets in the gardens, made for its especial care and enjoyment. They are alike admired and beloved from the august Emperor on his throne of State down to the most humble and impoverished peasant in the realm, all seeing in it an object worthy of care, and, it might be said, of love. So intense is the fondness for the goldfish in the land of Chinamen that it has begotten a study of them and their habits, that amounts to a science. All the resources of the knowledge of them, thus gained, have been exhausted in the production of new varieties by the crossing of different species, and with marked success.

In the larger cities the fish are regularly brought to market and offered for sale, very much as our florists offer their flowers and plants. For that purpose they are separated into pairs, and placed in little vessels made of bamboo, and, together with some bit of water plant, are sold to ready and ever eager purchasers; the prices ranging according to the variety and perfection of the specimens.

The mandarin, in person, may sometimes be seen in the markets buying fish for his aquaria, which, indeed, are often made of carved ivory, and inlaid with gold. These purchases he makes with the same relish and delight that one takes in making a new and valuable addition to his conservatory.

The most choice and beautiful varieties are obtained from a lake in the province of Che-Kyang.

The first introduction of the goldfish into Europe is variously dated, the years 1611, 1691 and 1728, A. D., each having claims for that honor; it may be said also that the variety introduced was the poorest and cheapest the Chinese had.

The first seen in France, however, were those imported for the famous Madame de Pompadour. Soon afterwards they became quite common, as it was found that they throve well in the waters of Southern Europe, especially in Portugal, where they sprang from a few small fish, said to have escaped from a vessel newly arrived from China. In that country they are now considered a delicacy for the table. It was not long until several streams in the neighborhood of Lisbon absolutely swarmed with them, and it is from this source that all Europe became stocked with them. From Europe the fish were brought to America, and quickly won their way into favor. For the last forty years, perhaps, these fish have become wild in the United States. Some having accidentally escaped into open waters, they soon made themselves at home, became thoroughly acclimated, and in consequence the goldfish has been quoted by several authors as a native American fish. It is true that, having been born here, they are in one sense native, but are not native in the sense, origin, as having originated here. Living thus in a wild state, the fish has greatly degenerated from the original standard. Through the efforts of the late Admiral Dan. Ammen, U. S. N., the cultivation of the goldfish in the United States has received a new impulse.

This gentleman, but a few years ago, brought from Japan a number of specimens of the choicest varieties which have since been reproduced with marked success.

f> THE GOLDFISH AM) ITS CULTURE.

The annual sale of goldfish in this country at the present day may be estimated at two millions, and of a value of $300,000.

Although this number is greatly exceeded by Europe, ours are their superior in quality, and the wholesale prices received for them are from one hundred to five hundred per centum higher than those paid to European culturists, who are at present, in connection with Japan, endeavoring to compete in the American market.

Chapter II. THE COMMON GOLDFISH

(Carassius auratus.)

The goldfish belongs to the carp-family, and by some authors is called Cyprinus auratus, which means gold-carp. A thorough investigation of the subject has led the author to the adoption of the name used in the heading, which is also used by some other authors. Besides being more correct, according to the anatomical structure of the fish, is more distinguishing, as there exists a variety of the European food-carp, known as the golden carp, or cyprinus aureus, which is in no ways identical with the .goldfish carassius auratus.

The body of the fish is elongated, compressed upon the sides and entirely covered with a coat of uniformly-sized scales.

The head is short, naked, that is, without scales ; the lips well developed and without barbies.

The color is generally an orange-yellow with a golden hue, sometimes marked with white or black; the abdomen may be either white or yellowish.

The name of the entire family, of course, had its origin in the prevailing golden color of the species first introduced into Europe.

The dorsal fin is long, reaching from the middle of the back nearly to the tail; specimens with a short dorsal fin are deformed.

IO THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CILTLRE.

They may sometimes have a divided tail, giving to them, if viewed from behind, the shape of a reversed letter " Y."

The size of the goldfish varies according to the locality in which they are raised, and the circumstances surrounding them, it being possible for them to attain a length of eighteen inches and a height of six inches. It is said that they may live to be a hundred years old, but this may be an exaggeration.

Goldfish enjoy a warm temperature, in bodies of water without a current; just such water as ponds afford suit them best, though they will make themselves at home in streams and multiply exceedingly. They are very hardy, and thrive well under circumstances that would be fatal to many other fish, this quality particularly adapting them for life in the aquarium, specimens having been successfully kept in this way, in good condition and health, from ten to sixteen years. So far as food is concerned, the goldfish will feed upon almost all kinds of vegetable matter, insects, worms, etc., even preying upon small fish, and devouring its own spawn and young. The food is taken in by a sucking motion of the lips ; the mouth being toothless, as in all carps, the mastication is accomplished by a few bony tubercles situated in the throat.

In the spring or summer following the one in which they were hatched, goldfish attain their maturity. The size of the fish has nothing whatever to do with the ability to spawn, though a large fish will deposit more eggs than a small one. As an instance, goldfish one inch in length, nine months old, spawned in an aquarium kept in a parlor; all the eggs hatched and the young grew up. In the spring of that year, when the temperature of the water rises above 6o°F. , they become lively and vivacious, losing all timidity and precaution, so that they easily fall a prey to their many enemies.

Two, three or more male fish follow a female, chasing her to some shallow place where there is an abundance of water-plants.

THE GOLDFISH AND ITS OI.TURE.

They lash the water in a lively way, twisting the posterior portion of their bodies energetically and shooting through the water near its surface with short tremulous movements of the fins. At places they gather together in a compact mass, one tumbling over the other. This is the moment when the female drops her eggs, which are immediately impregnated by the males.

This process is repeated throughout the summer, with intervals of rest during the hottest period. The eggs are of the size of a pinhead, and may be either semi-transparent, yellow. sh, or brilliant yellow in color. Whether this difference in the color of the eggs has anything to do with the coloring the fish will acquire after it is hatched still remains an open question. With the eggs of the trout the case is different, for the culturist can predict the color of the flesh of the fish when grown up; it is possible that this may also apply to the goldfish. The eggs are covered with some adhesive substance, mucus probably, and adhere to anything they happen to touch. The water-plants in the immediate vicinity of the place where the fish have been rolling about will, upon examination, be found covered very profusely with them.

The young are hatched out in from two to six days, the period of incubation being determined by the temperature of the water and the condition of the weather. Direct sunlight has the effect of hastening the process.

During the first few days the young fish are not able to move about much ; they hang or lay about among the water-plants, obtaining subsistence from their yolk-bag, but as soon as this is absorbed they swim around on the search of something to eat.

The color of the skin of young goldfish is at first silvery gray, but at an age of six weeks this color begins to change, becoming darker and assuming a cloudy appearance, finally taking on the permanent color. The whole process is sometimes completed in two days,

THE GOLDFISH AND ITS Ct'LTlKK.

though in some instances it is deferred until the following spring. The perfection and rapidity of the coloring process depend upon several causes, foremost among which is the proper selection of specimens from which to breed.

This is a very important consideration, in truth, the prime factor upon which hinges the character of the result.

When hatched, the young fish are further subjected to modification by their surroundings, the temperature of the water, its depth, quality, etc., all exercising more or less influence.

The complete result of the breeding, so far as the coloring is concerned, can not be seen until the change has taken place, when any errors that have been made are at once apparent. Those fish that have failed to receive any coloring are then called silver- fish; should they have turned milky white (albinos), they are known as pearl-fish.

The young, when kept in warm ponds — this means that the ponds are so located that the sun can warm them thoroughly — may grow six inches long in four months. As a general thing, however, the length reached in that time is from two and a half to three inches.

In connection with this may be mentioned that all the young of the same spawning do not grow at an equal rate, some few doubling the average size, while others fail to reach it. The latter are then known as dwarf goldfish, and are much in demand for small aquaria.

Deformities occur oftener in this family of fishes than in any other. Specimens minus a dorsal, anal, or even caudal fin, are frequent; rarer are those destitute of scales or minus an eye or with a lob-sided mouth.

From the habit of the goldfish to seek its nourishment on the bottom of the pond in which it lives, and to its careless sluggishness, caused by its voracious appetite, the goldfish, especially in its younger days, falls the victim of innumerable enemies.

In fact, so easy is it to destroy them, that anything else living in its company in the pond and of sufficient strength to master it, may be set down as its enemy.

When arrived at maturity its peculiar mode of reproduction renders it a welcome prey to enemies that do not live in water. It is likewise subjected to diseases of various kinds, and considering all that, it may be said that it is a mere accident when goldfish multiply to any considerable extent without the protection of man, or that the circumstances under which they increased were exceptionally favorable.

Chapter III. JAPANESE GOLDFISHES

In introducing this variety of fish to the attention of the reader, it may be said that the description of the mode of reproduction, habits, etc., regarding the common goldfish, equally apply to the Japanese and Chinese varieties, as they are members of the same family, differing only in shape and color.

The Japanese specify the goldfish by the shape of the body and that of the fins, the coloring in most species being the same. The prevailing colors are vermillion, gold and white, if indeed the last can be called a color.

The Japanese classification being rather complicated, the species' names will be omitted for convenience sake, and the fish described in the manner others have been, though at the same time retaining the foreign nomenclature.

THE TELESCOPE.

This fish is indeed an odd looking affair. The body is spherical very much like that of a frog-tadpole, and covered, as all goldfishes are, with medium-sized scales. The fins, are very delicate in struc-

THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE.

ture; the anal fin mostly absent; the caudal fin is double, very large and deeply divided. The eyes are large and project forward, having the appearance of a small telescope adjusted to the eye (see illustration), from this the fish received the name it bears. To make the

The Telescope.

eyes more prominent the Japanese culturist resorts to an ingenious device. He places the young fish in small dark-glass vessels shaped for the purpose, and which obliges the fish to look constantly in but one direction.

The color of the fish may be either vermillion, white or part of both, the markings in that case being very beautiful. The body of the fish is all out of proportion to the .size of the fins, and in consequence propulsion is a difficult matter.

In spawning, the male rolls the female about among the stones in a most pitiful manner, sometimes for days together; this is an effort of the male to assist in the extrusion of the eggs. When spawned the eggs attach themselves to the stones and other substantial objects rather than to water-plants, probably because it is amongst the stones that the extrusion takes place.

When the young are first hatched, they appear exactly like the common goldfish. They rest upon the water-plants or other supports for a couple of days, at the end of which time the yolk-bag is absorbed; then commences the struggle for existence. The double tail, which is even then large enough to be distinguished, hinders the tiny creatures (but one-quarter of an inch in length) in their movements in the water. Should they find sufficient food to make a bountiful meal, matters become still worse, they lose their balance and can not go at all until digestion is completed, in the meanwhile falling an easy and welcome prey to numerous enemies.

For this reason, which is the main one, and because the fish is very difficult to propagate, it is exceedingly rare, even in Japan.

When mature, the telescope fish is about the size of a man's fist.

THE FRINGE-TAIL.

The body of the fringe-tail is short, egg-shaped and slightly compressed ; the eyes normal, but very variable in the color of the iris, which is that curtain in the anterior portion of the eye that by its contraction and dilation, regulates the quantity of light that enters the optic. In this fish the color of the iris may be any color, excepting green only, in different individuals.

The fins are large and of very fine structure; the anal fin is double, while the caudal may be either double, treble or quadruple, as the case may be, and is larger than the body, drooping very gracefully. (See illustration.) These special characteristics, among all the fancy varieties, are not fully developed until the second year. In the coloring of the body and fins this fish is not surpassed by any other, making one of the most valuable and desirable objects for the aquarium. There are specimens the back and sides of which are deep vermillion, the abdomen, throat and eyes of rich gold, while all the fins are milk white. Others again will be found presenting a rich vermillion on that part of the body forward of the dorsal fin including the throat, part of the abdomen, and the respective fins, while all back of that is pure white. Some there are with body all

The goldfish and its culture.

>7 white, the fins red, and vice versa; others pearly, dotted with irregularly shaped pink spots, the eyes being blue; again, the entire fish will be white, the only touch of color being the deep red of the large eyes. In fact, it is impossible within the limits of this sketch to enumerate the endless variety of the markings to be seen, and one can only get an adequate idea by examining a large number.

^y

The Fringe-Tail.

Strange as it may seem, this beautiful species of fish was nearly lost to this country through the caprice of private individuals who happened, or rather were lucky enough, to possess perfect specimens, and were unwilling that others should enjoy the possession of the like. But fortunately the late Mrs. Larz Anderson of Cincinnati, O., a lady both generous and appreciative, rather than that the stock l8 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE.

should die out, loaned to the author for the purpose of reproduction several fine specimens she had recently obtained. The pure stock may now be considered secure for the future. In evidence of the extreme beauty of the species, it may be stated that private parties paid for fine specimens twenty times the weight of the fish in gold. What has been said about the difficulty of raising telescope fish, may with almost equal propriety be repeated for the fringe-tail. Unlike the former, the latter fish spawns against aquatic plants, the extrusion of the eggs not being so difficult.