IC-NRLF SB 33 fiDM O "T!Sic\ . $iL^/ - THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID THE JAPANESE FANTAIL GOLDFISH. ( Carassius Japonicus ) THE GOLDFISH AND ITS Systematic Culture with a View to Profit, A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON THE FISH, ITS PROPAGATION, ENEMIES, DISEASES, CARE OF THE FISH IN CfiPTIYITY, TOGETHER WITH HINTS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS, ETC. BY HUGO MULERTT, PROPAGATOR OF ORNAMENTAL FISH AND AQUATIC PLANTS. . WITH COLORED FRONTISPIECE AND NINETEEN WOOD-CUTS, DRAWN FROM NATURE. CINCINNATI. 1883. Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1883, by HUGO MULERTT, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. (3.6 PREFACE. 7T* 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 accidently 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 me*et with the approval of an intelligent public, I shall consider that I have not labored in vain. HUGO MULERTT. CINCINNATI, O., July, 1883. CONTENTS. PART L The Goldfish and its Varieties. 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 II. 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 Lor- raine , 20 iii iv CONTENTS. PART II. The Ponds and their Construction. 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. Con- sumption 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. Arrang- ing the Ponds Advantageously. Ways 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 Mate- rials. 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 PART III. The Propagation and Care of the Goldfish. CHAPTER IX. THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE GOLDFISH. The Scales. The Fins. The Gills. The Heart. The Voice. The Air-bladder. The Stomach. Jhe Eyes. Hearing. The Act of Sleeping. Taste. Smell. Reproduc- tion. 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 Set- ting 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. Remov- ing 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. Assort- ing 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 vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVII. CARE 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. Pre- caution against spread of Disease 68 CHAPTER XVIII. s 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 Tem- perature 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 Destruc- tiveness. 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 Enemie?. : 83 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. Differ- ence of their Spawn. The Water Spider. Salamanders and Newts. Their CONTENTS. VI 1 Tadpoles Destructive. Adults harmless to Man. Water-snakes. Safest way to Destroy them. A Snake-trap. Cranes and Herons. Their Mode of Fish- ing. 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. Tubercu- losis. The Cause of it. Slime or Itch. Bacteriae, the Cause. Treatment of the Disease. Dropsy. Treatment of Specimens affected with it. Ery- sipelas. Improper Feeding the Cause. Its Prevention and Cure. Acci- dents. 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, . . . . . . *7 Longitudinal Section of a Pond, 33 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 Egg, . . . .50 The Head of the Male in Breeding Season, f . . 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, ..... 87 The Dragon-fly, . . . ... .89 The Larva of Same, . . . . . 85 vili PART I. THE GOLDFISH AND ITS VARIETIES. CHAPTER I. " Everyman 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 aqua- rium 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 diffi- cult 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 5 6 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. much obscurity. The first, mention we find of it is in the "Arabian Nights' 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 familie"s 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 admi- ration 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 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 7 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 South- ern 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 conse- quence 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 Admiral , 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 num- ber of specimens of the choicest varieties which have since been reproduced with marked success. 8 THE GOLDFISH AND 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 endeavoring to compete in the American market. CHAPTER II. THE COMMON GOLDFISH. (Carassius auratus?) DER GOLDFISCH. LE POISSON ROUGE. The goldfish belongs to the carp-family, and by some authors is called Cyprinus auratus^ which means gold-carp. A thorough inves- tigation of the subject has Jed 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. 10 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 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 exceed- ingly. 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 60 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 CULTURE. II 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 pin- head, and may be either semi-transparent, yellowish, 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, obtain- ing 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, 12 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE- 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 modifica- tion 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. i 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, THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 13 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. ( Carassius japomcus.) JAPANISCHE GOLDFISCHE. POISSON D'ORIENT. 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- 14 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 15 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 illustra- tion), 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 conse- quence 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 sup- ports for a couple of days, at the end of which time the yolk-bag is absorbed; then commences the struggle for existence. The double l6 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 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 com- pressed ; 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, except- ing 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 grace- fully. (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. 17 white, the fins red, and vice versa; others pearly, dotted with irregu- larly 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. 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, a lady both generous and appreciative, rather than that the stock should die out, loaned to the author for the pur- l8 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. pose 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. THE FANTAIL. The body is elongated and compressed on the sides; the head pointed ; the fins are short and stout, the anal sometimes double, and occasionally found wanting. The caudal fin is comparatively short, is double, with the upper edges grown together; it is sometimes erect like that of the fantail pigeon (see frontispiece), or projects horizon- tally. The colors are mostly vermillion and white; in some cases the whole body is white, with the exception of the abdomen, this being golden; in others the body is dark red, the belly also golden. The color of the eyes is variable. It may be mentioned here as an advantage of the double-tailed fish, that they are unable to jump out of the water. This fact is undoubtedly one to be appreciated by those keeping an aquarium. THE COMET. This is a noble looking fish, and greatly resembles the fantail. Its body is slender, the fins very large and of fine structure ; the caudal fin is single and deeply divided. The coloring is identical with the preceding. THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 19 THE NYMPH. The body of this species is oblong, and much compressed on the sides; the head is short, and fins normal. The color varies from a light to a deep vermillion, sometimes white; a background of white beautifully dotted with crimson, the throat golden, makes a magnifi- cent combination that is very ornamental indeed. The sub-varieties of this are the Ramsnose and the Hognose. THE RAMSNOSE. That part of the body of this fish from the mouth to the dorsal fin forms a bow, like the forehead of a ram, this feature giving the fish its name. The lower part of the body from the mouth to the tail continues a straight line. THE HOGNOSE. The peculiarity of this fish is Just the reverse, concaved, greatly resembling the head ot a fat hog. All of the goldfish described above do not attain a very great size, seldom attaining a length of more than eight inches. CHAPTER IV. CHINESE GOLDFISHES. / ( Carassius orientalis ) CHINESISCHE GOLDFISCHE. POISSON D'ORIENT. The Chinese species of goldfish differ more from each other in color than in the shape of the body and fins, the contrary being the dominant characteristic of the Japanese species, described above. So startling are these colors that one is almost immediately reminded of the story in the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments" of the enchanted lake, the fish in which were of four colors, yellow, blue, red and white, and were people of four races, who had in some way incurred the displeasure of a genius, who, in revenge, had thus transformed them. The Chinese reckon seven distinct species, each with its sub- varieties, the most of them very beautiful indeed. Of the species King-Yu, the variety called THE MOTTLED BEAUTY is very remarkable. Beneath, the fish is simply silvered, but on the back and sides it is mottled with rich hues of blue, yellow, black and rose, the latter color deepening into pure crimson at the gills. Along the ridge of the back, especially near the tail, the black 20 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 21 becomes very intense, and has the rich appearance of a piece of Lyons velvet. Another of the same species is ' THE SUPERB. This magnificent fish, when fully developed, is nearly fifteen inches long. The under part is silvered like the preceding, but the back, which is remarkably broad, is splendidly varied with scarlet and black, the scales being delicately edged with a metallic gold color. THE SMALL BLUE. This, }ike the others, is also silvery on the abdomen, but which, however, is delicately flushed with pale rose. The whole of the sides and back are of a rich azure, which shines with a metallic luster. THE MOOR, OR DARKEY, is another distinct variety, and is a large fish. The back and sides are very nearly black, which becomes violet underneath. All of the scales are edged with a red-toned bronze. THE PIE-BALD. Species Ouen-Yu. This is a very beautiful variety, the ground color of which is a delicate flesh tint, and upon which ^here are large patches of rich brown, very much like the markings of a pie-bald horse. THE RUBY. Species Nin-eubk- Yu. This is a fish of exquisite beauty, being of a delicate semi-opaque, violet crimson, gradually shading off to pale rose underneath. A peculiarly fine variety of this species is 22 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. THE RED-FIN, the body of which is a delicate azure, while the head, tail and fins are an intense scarlet. THE TUMBLER. Species Kin-teon - Yu. This is a remarkable fish, and one that seems quite distinct. The head and tail are bent upward, giving to the entire fish the form of a crescent. When swimming it has the habit of throwing itself over and over in the same manner that tumbler pigeons do when flying. The color of the fish is a magnificent blue flushed with orange making a gor- geous display. THE ELEGANT. This is a variety of the species Ouen-Yu, or "lettered kind," so named because the streaky markings are not altogether unlike Chinese characters. It is of a pure white sparingly dashed with patches of pearly pink on the body, and having some exquisite letter-like markings or tracings about the head and tail. Another variety of the species is rich scarlet, shading off to black on the back, in the midst of which is a large cross of pure white having two transverse bands like the Cross of Lorraine, by which name the author thinks proper to desig- nate it. PART II. THE PONDS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION. 28 CHAPTER V. Withholding facts is robbery." ORVILLE DEWEY. ABOUT FISH-PONDS IN GENERAL. A basin of water in the open air, so arranged or constructed that the water may be drawn off at any desired time, is called a pond. A body of water not under control, in the full sense of the word, is usually known as a pool or a lake. The dimension of such body of water does not necessarily regulate the name applied to it, as for instance, a pond may either be but a few feet in length and breadth, or it may cover an estate of hundreds of acres in extent, just as the requirements of the case may be. In countries far removed from the sea-shore, or any other natural source from which fish may be obtained in large quantities, the necessity arises for supplying the want by some means or other. This can only be done by cultivating them on a large scale, and in quantities sufficient to meet the demands of a steady market. The cultivation of fish for the purpose of food has been carried on for many generations, and so far back as the Middle Ages considerable attention was given by the monks to pond culture, in order that they might have a reliable source from which to procure fish during lent. From those days virtually dates the systematic culture of fish in waters that are thoroughly under control. 26 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. At that time means of transportation were meager and very slow, so that the cultivation of fish in the interior was a prime necessity, yet notwithstanding the rapid transit on the railroad of the present time, putting inland places in close connection with the ocean and other natural fish reservoirs, pond culture may be and is carried on with both success and profit. Though the railroad has made the salt- water fish a great rival of that cultivated in fresh water, the latter nevertheless has the advantage of always being marketable and close at hand. To so successful a degree has pond culture arrived at the present day, that one is enabled to propagate the scaly tribe in quantities without limit. The fish that was principally, if not to say exclusively, cultivated in ponds in former days, was the famous German carp; the estab- lishments founded three and even four centuries ago being still in successful operation, and may at any time be seen in various parts of Austria and Germany. So thoroughly has the industry been studied that it might almost be dignified with the name of a science. The profits arising from it are enormous, and it may be that interest has had something, if not very much, to do with the pond culture as it is now carried on. To give the reader an idea of its extent in those countries, it may be said that the carp ponds belonging to the manor of Wittengau number 250, and cover an area of 22,000 acres, the annual yield of fish from which is one-half million of pounds. Similar establish- ments are found on the manor Konigswartha, in Upper Silesia, with 205 ponds, covering 9,000 acres; the manor Peitz-Cottbus (Branden- burgh) with 72 ponds, covering 5,600 acres. These and many other large establishments, to say nothing of thousands of ponds scattered all over Central Europe, give ample evidence that the industry is one of magnitude and importance. THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 27 In this country the cutting down of timber, the draining of the land, and the establishment of new industries have no doubt greatly increased the value of the soil, but have also influenced the decline in the productiveness of the water. This is a matter of serious importance, and one which is already claiming the attention of intelligent journalists who see the necessity of fighting the evil ere the remedy is beyond our reach. In fact, the s fish industry of the country is one of national interest, and was, not many years ago, the cause of diplomatic difficulty between England and the United States, putting the latter to the expense of millions of money before the matter was satisfactorily adjusted. In view of these facts it will not be long before the necessity of cultivating fish for the market will make itself felt, just as it is in Europe to-day. The consumption of food-fish, of course, increases with the increase of population, while on the other hand, for reasons given, the supply is rapidly decreasing in quantity and quality. Besides the creeks and rivers are now becoming the sewers into which the wash- ings and dirt of the nation are poured, and the gradual destruction of our fish is consequently taking place right under our eyes. In the author's opinion, the decrease of our fish is' not so much due to the use of small mesh seines, as many pretend, as it is to the increased demand for fish as food. The destruction caused by a few careless fishermen is more than counter-balanced by turtle-hunters and snake-killing boys, the one making it a business, the other engaging in it for sake of the sport, who between them catch and kill a multitude of these voracious enemies of the fish, which, in the water all the time, manage to destroy untold numbers of fish. The oft-repeated remark, "in former years this river used to be alive with fish," is very well in its way, and is, moreover, true; but it must not be forgotten that in former years there were not so many people requiring them for food. 28 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. A bit of forest in which grow a few chestnut-trees was, by the then few village boys said to be "full of chestnuts," but now, when the village has become a large town or city, the few chestnut-trees are not looked upon with the same admiration because, though in equally good condition, they do not furnish chestnuts enough to go 'round. A piece of land of given size supplies in plenty, vegetables for one family, but if the family increases in numbers, and additions have to be made to the house at the expense of the piece of land, it can no longer furnish* the original quantity of food. New land then is added to the field, or, if that is impossible, that remain- ing is forced to increased production by the use of manures. Now then, why not apply to pisciculture the rules guiding 'agri- culture, when viewed in this light ? The fish-consuming family has inordinately increased, its dwelling is enlarged at the expense of the fish-producing rivers which are now made to serve other purposes. New additions are consequently necessary and possible by the proper use of water-courses that are now going to waste. Pond-culture is not solely confined to the production of food-fish, there being many large establishments devoted to the exclusive culture of ornamental fish. The largest of these are also in Europe, one in Oldenburgh cov- ering twelve acres, yielding anually 300,000 goldfish, and affording employment to many people. A still larger establishment is that in Austria, belonging to Baron de Washington. There are besides many smaller establishments scattered about all over Europe, and generally near the large cities, just as we find florists in the immediate neighborhood of our own cities. CHAPTER VI. THE CONSTRUCTION OF PONDS. The fish-culturist recognizes three kinds of ponds, which are designated by the source from which they receive their supply. First, the creek and river ponds' ; these are fed from the source that gives them their names, and which may be, in fact, usually is, in the immediate neighborhood. The water may be conveyed to the ponds either by the action of a pump or by means of a drain, the latter undoubtedly being the least expensive, and the most relia- ble, besides requiring no further attention than to turn on or off when so desired. Second, spring-ponds, those fed by a spring, and it may be said in favor of such ponds that the supply of water is steady and of uni- form quality and temperature, besides being free from mud. Third sky-ponds, those that receive their supply from the rain that falls, and which is drained off or runs from the surface of adjoining fields. The value of a pond is based upon the reliability of its water supply, the quality of the same, as also that of the soil that forms the floor of the pond. Last but not least, is the location' of the pond. The locality ought to be such that without any special expenditure of time, the pond can always be under supervision, thus guarding against pilfering upon the part of \nischievous boys, the 2J 30 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. depredations of muskrats, herons, cranes, etc. The water that supplies the ponds would better come from a spring or be gathered in the manner described for the sky-pond, as by this way one will avoid the annoyance and destruction caused by snakes, muskrats, frogs, etc., that are always found in small rivers and creeks, and which are sure to find their way to the pond, causing much trouble, to say nothing of the money value of that which they destroy. Besides this, the ponds should have some natural protec- tion against the high winds of spring time. This is very well afforded by a clump of trees close by, but much better if the.pond is situated in a hollow between two or three small hills. These not only shelter the ponds, but tend to keep them warm by retaining the warmth of the sun in the spring, just at a time when it is most needed. In a warm and protected location of this kind, the fish will spawn several weeks before the ordinary beginning of the season, the young, of course, being ready for sale that much sooner, and the ponds are vacated for a second crop, thus bringing a quicker and more liberal return on the investment. Lastly, it is of but little use to locate ponds in a neighborhood that does not afford a market for the product, unless, indeed, the amateur should be in correspondence with such parties as would be likely to find it to their interest to handle his stock. The foregoing remarks on ponds and those which follow are made with an especial view to the culture of goldfish, so that the novice as well as the amateur may get a distinct idea of the proper method of locating and constructing them, for upon this depends the success of the enterprise, and more so when it is engaged in for the purpose of yielding an income. We come now to a consideration of the immediate and practical points concerning the subject upon which we are engaged and which we wish to see in running order. After having determined to THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 31 devote his spare time to the cultivation of goldfish, the amateur will hardly know where to commence or what to do first, neither will he know how to do it. That want the author thoroughly appreciates, and it is his aim to supply it in these pages, at the same time bearing in mind that the great majority will probably have but a small capital with which to commence business, and must necessarily confine themselves to such things as are most needed when making a start. After a beginning has been successfully accomplished, other and useful accessories may be added from time to time that will undoubt- edly greatly reduce labor and enhance the enjoyment of the pursuit, for if one does not take any interest in what he is engaged he can not hope to derive from it either pleasure or profit. The first thing then is to determine on a favorable site for the location of the ponds. This, as previously stated, should be one protected from cold winds and fully exposed to the sun, not for- getting that the soil to form the floor of the ponds should be as rich as possible. It must also be borne in mind for it is a very essential requisite, that every pond must be drawn off at times, and independ- ently of all others. When this can not be accomplished by turning to account the natural declivity or resources of the site, the series must be so arranged that this may be accomplished in sections, or, in other words, the ponds so situated that two or three or more, as the case may be, can be emptied at will. The manner in which ponds are to be constructed in any given case is, as a matter of necessity, to be governed by the circumstances as they exist, anything favorable for them to be taken advantage of and turned to good account. A natural valley or hollow may be dammed up at the lower end, thus enabling the culturist to place his ponds on top of the ground, so to speak, or they may be made by Digging out the s il to the required size and depth to receive the frames hereafter to be decribed. 32 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. As before stated, there are many enemies which prey upon the goldfish, and all of which are to be guarded against in the construc- tion of the ponds in which they are expected to live and increase. If left alone and without the protection of man, the circumstances must be exceptionally favorable under which they can thrive and multiply. For the systematic raising of goldfish, therefore, a series of ponds is indispensable, each of which is constructed and arranged to meet the requirements of the specific purpose for which it is intended. All of them, however, are based upon the same funda- mental principle and must have adjustable inlets and outlets, other- wise they can not be under complete control, the reason for which a little experience will soon explain. The number of ponds needed for the culture of goldfish does not exceed four, and in their order are the spawning-pond, rearing-pond, storage-pond, and winter-pond. The spawning-ponds or "beds" are those ponds in which the parent fish are placed when the breeding time arives, and are to be kept there throughout the duration of that season, and solely for the purpose of depositing the eggs. The rearing-ponds are those in which the young fry is placed or "planted" and to keep them until they are of a marketable size. The storage-ponds are for the purpose of keeping saleable stock until wanted, and in a situation readily accessible at a moment's notice. The last in order is the winter-pond, in which the parent fish, and those of the younger that are intended for the same purpose, are carried through the inclemencies of the winter. The greatest depth of all the ponds, the winter-pond excepted, should not be made to exceed twenty-four (24) inches, and this to be at that end where the outlet is placed. From twenty-four inches at one end the depth should gradually decrease until the water depth at the head is not greater than six (6) inches. (See illustration.) The upper edges of the dams of the ponds should not be less THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 33 than six inches above the highest water capacity, thus avoiding over- flow during heavy rain-storms; neither should they be less than eighteen (18) in width. It is also necessary that the dams be made very carefully, so that when soaked with water they will not sink or cave in with their own weight., A most excellent material of which to build them consists simply of sod cut into suitable pieces and laid one upon another, just as a stone-mason lays one stone upon the other, the whole when thus laid becomes very solid and compact, and capable of resisting considerable pressure, and will withstand the wear and tear of the weather and the weight of the body when walking over them. Where there is danger prevailing from a LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF GOLDFISH POND. sudden freshet in an adjoining creek, it is a wise precaution to build, in addition, a strong dam on the outside and in the direction from which the danger is expected. For greater safety this dam may be in its turn protected with boards, so as to prevent gradual washing away. Each inlet, /". e., the point at which the water supply makes its way into the pond, is to be guarded with galvanized iron netting of a tolerably coarse mesh, about eight to the inch, as a small mesh clogs very readily, and only adds the additional care of keeping it clean. The outlet is formed of two gutters of which one fits in an upright position tightly on the end of the other, which leads through the bottom of the dam, forming a right angle. (See illustration.) The one leading through the dam is closed tightly on all four sides, but on the upright one the side facing the pond is closed with adjustable sections cut from flooring boards. By means of 34 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. these movable parts the level of the water in the pond can be regulated as occasion may require. The overflow, that is, where the water is running out, is guarded by a -wire screen of the same sized mesh as before mentioned, and adjustable in the same manner as the other boards protecting the opening. When it is desirable to drain the pond, one section or board is removed at a time, always taking care to place the wire screen .upon the top by letting it slide down into the grooves. (See illustration.) OUTLET FOR POND. A most important point, and one to be insisted upon in the construction of ponds, is to so arrange the water supply that it will at all times be under complete control. Each pond is to receive its supply independently of all the rest, and the- water must also, when need be, be cut off from the pond without inter- fering with the supply of others. The supply channel must likewise have an independent "run," so that the water it contains when not wanted for use in the ponds, may find its way out of the establish- ment. This point is one of great importance, especially during heavy rain-storms, as the large increase in the volume of water would cause the ponds to overflow and probably do great damage. CHAPTER VII. THE AUTHOR'S ESTABLISHMENT. The accompanying diagram will serve as a reliable guide for the construction and arrangement of a complete establishment for the raising of goldfish. It will be observed that the ponds are arranged in a semi-circle, not because the horseshoe" is all the rage, but simply for the reason that the little valley in which they are located is encircled by small but steep hills running in that direction. As previously stated, the disposition of the ponds must of necessity be in accordance with the topography or "lay of the land" in the locality determined upon, and the amateur will have to follow accordingly, though there are changes and modifications that he can make, and in many instances with great advantage. DESCRIPTION OF PLAN. A. Spawning or propagating beds. B. Rearing ponds. C. Storage ponds and nursery. D. Winter pond. E. Isolated pond for special purposes. F. Catch-basin for stray fish. G. Lodge, where the eggs are hatched. H. Wind-brake and guard against freshets. I. Creek, passing the establishment. Star. Location of springs. Arrow. Direction of water flow. Dotted lines. Supply drain. bracket. Outlets. 86 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. CHAPTER VIII. THE PROPAGATING BED. Having now had a general view of the ponds, the reader's attention is directed to a detailed study of them, each one separately, the method of their construction, and the reason why they differ from one another; for, being made each with a specific purpose to serve, they of course must be built with that object in view. The spawning-pond, or "propagating bed," is situated at that end of the rearing-pond where the water makes its entrance. It is a division consisting of a board frame eighteen (18) inches in depth and four (4) feet wide by eight (8) feet long, fashioned very much like the frame of a gardener's hot-bed. This frame, when ready^ is to be sunk about two inches into the soil composing the bottom of the pond, and very accurately at that; for if this precaution is not taken, the fish are very apt to escape from the pond through any aperture that may be left. The upper edge of the frame should be not less than six inches above the usual level of the water, thus preventing the danger of overflow. In the side facing the supply drain, about two inches above the water level, and in the other forming the division of the rearing-pond, about one inch below this level, small openings for tjie entrance and exit of the water are cut and care- fully covered with galvanized iron-wire gauze, of about eight meshes to the inch. 37 38 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. This box, the bottom of which is formed by the floor of the pond, is to be covered with a well-fitting frame, mounted upon hinges and also covered with galvanized iron-wire netting of one mesh to the inch. This wire screen serves to prevent the approach of numerous enemies that would otherwise greatly interfere with the spawn ers, if not destroy them altogether. By following the above given direc- tions for the construction of the frame the greatest economy possible can be had, for the lumber in the board as obtained from the dealers, measures twelve (12) and sixteen (16) feet in length, so that the measurements, eight by four feet, can always be had without unnec- essary waste of lumber. Besides this, the wire netting is obtained in any length, and also .four (4) feet in width, so that here too is a saving of material, and consequently of expense. Inside of this frame, or box, as it may be called when, placed into position, another frame upon which wire netting is stretched, is to be sunk. The size Of the mesh is to be such as is best adapted to the size of the fish that are to be placed in the pond. It is very easy to see that this false bottom subserves a very useful purpose, and often saves time that at the moment is otherwise valuable. When, for one reason or another, it is desirable to remove the fish, the only requirement is simply to raise the frame to get it into shallow water, when the whole contents of the pond can be examined at ease. A spawning-pond, such as the one described, can be, and with propriety too, constructed separately and wholly isolated. But if it is made a division of the rearing-pond, a good advantage is secured, namely, the stream of water that passes through it will carry into the rearing-pond such of the young fish as were hatched from undiscov- ered eggs. They will thus escape being devoured by the parent, and besides will get into the place intended for them, and where the chances for their growing up are vastly in their favor. THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 39 THE NURSERY. This is merely an apartment temporarily established in 'the storage-pond, which serves the purpose of protecting the young during their earliest infancy. THE REARING POND. This pond differs from the preceding in several respects. To begin with, it is five times as large, the size eight (8) feet by twenty (20) being in many ways the most convenient, as experience has abundantly proven. In constructing this, as well as the others, it is not absolutely necessary that the outlet should be directly opposite the inlet, though such an arrangement insures the most complete changing of the contents (the water) by the current passing from one end to the other. The location of the outlet and inlet must be determined by the judgment of the builder when seeking to get the best results he can, from the circumstances and surroundings of the locality in which he places his ponds. It is necessary, however, that the inlet should be one or two inches above the water level, so that the fish will be prevented from getting into the supply drain, should there happen to be a defect in the guard. In constructing the pond, the remarks applying to ponds in general are to be respected. The dams must reach six inches above the water level, and the floor be as uniform as possible, with a regular incline of from six (6) inches depth at one end to twenty-four (24) inches at the other. The deepest part to be at the outlet, insuring a perfect and^even drawing off, whenever that may be needed. One or two plants, such as Nymphaea only, should be planted in the soil of the bottom, as their floating leaves afford shelter to the fish in very hot weather. Besides it offers greater convenience for the fish to reach deep water upon the approach of danger, as in such 40 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. cases fish always dart to the bottom, and being there, they get out of the way much sooner. If placed near the outlet, it is also easier to gather the flowers when the plants are in blossom; this is probably a small point, but one that will be appreciated upon trial. Should the plants not be available, one or two pieces of board left floating on the water will answer the purpose. If it is impossible to isolate the rearing-ponds from each other, the consequences are not at all serious, but things should be so arranged that the very large fish are not mixed up with the small ones, as the latter would then he deprived of their share of the natural food the pond itself supplies. THE STORAGE POND. This pond is for the sole x purpose of keeping the saleable fish where they can easily be secured when desired, assorted according to variety, color and size, and kept in good condition till wanted. It is to be so located that it will not interfere with the draining off of the other ponds. Its construction does not differ in anywise from that of the rearing-pond, as indeed it can be used for rearing, if not wanted for nursery purposes (of which we will treat further on), until wanted for its destined purpose. It is best, however, to divide it with boards into different parts of equal size, so as to secure a general fit of wire covers. THE WINTER POND. This is best located close by a spring, so that the constant flowing in of a stream of water of even temperature will prevent the surface of the pond from freezing over entirely, in which case the fish would die. The depth of the pond ought not to be less than three feet, and its sides closely lined with boards or masonry, thus affording THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 41 protection from enemies and preventing caving in. The flow of Water is to enter at one end, traverse the length of the pond, and leave at the opposite extremity. The dimensions of the winter quarters need not be very large, as during the winter season, fish in a natural state, pass that time in a semi-torpid condition, eat no food, and are not revived until they get the warmth of the sun in early spring. A compartment of four (4) feet by eight (8), and of the above depth, will carry about fifty fish of eight to ten inches in length safely through the winter. Where it can be done, the fish may be wintered over in a green house cistern, or in aquaria where they may be under close observa- tion, and at the same time be of some ornamental value. If in the open air, the winter-pond is, of course, to be covered with wire netting to keep out the various birds and animals that would prey upon them; it is also well to protect the greater part of the tpp with boards, keeping out as much snow as possible. PART III. THE PROPAGATION AND CARE OF THE GOLDFISH. CHAPTER IX. " Nature my school, the water my field." THE ANATOMY OF THE GOLDFISH. Before we enter into the details of the propagation of the fish, it is necessary to learn something about its anatomy. A study of the accompanying cut (which is merely diagramatic) will greatly assist the reader in getting a clear understanding of the internal arrangement of the several parts with which it is most necessary to be familiar. ANATOMICAL SKETCH OF GOLDFISH. We will consider first the scales, as they are almost the first thing to strike the eye. These scales are so arranged upon the surface of the body that they overlap each other just in the manner that a 45 4 6 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. carpenter lays shingles on a roof, being disposed in such a way that the friction incident upon the movement of the fish in the water is reduced to the smallest proprotion. As the fish grows older and larger the scales increase in size. Near the middle of the body and running along eacn side of the fish, there is a line or row of scales that possess peculiarities distin- guishing them from other scales. These scales are pierced with a tubular aperture, and the tubes of which they are the exit are quite distinct, and form the so-called "lateral line." Through these tubes a slimy substance or mu_ cous is exuded, which covers the entire body, seemingly for the purpose of making the fish water- proof and of further reducing the friction in the water. These tubes always point from the m - SCALE FROM LATERAL LINE. (Enlarged.) trix, or root of the scale, towards the tail of the fish. It is scales of this description that naturalists refer to when se.eking to learn the species to which the fish belongs, because the peculiarities of their structure differ in them. (See illustration.) The next thing most noticeable are the fins, these being named according to their location upon the body of the fish and subserve various purposes. The pectoral fins (fig. a.) are those situated in the place corresponding with the fore-legs of animals, the ventral fins (fig. b.) being placed where the hind-legs of animals are found. The dorsal fin (fig. c.) is that one found upon the back of the fish. That fin situated behind the anus receives its name from that part, and is known as the anal fin (fig d.), while the tail of a fish is prop- erly called the caudal fin, (fig. e.) THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 47 The water in which the fish lives is very nearly as heavy as the fish itself, the latter then requiring comparatively little strength to move about. The motion necessitating the greatest expenditure of power is that of propulsion forward, and is accomplished by the action of the caudal fin. The pectoral fins are used to change the water in the neighborhood of the gills, thus serving as adjunct respiratory organs. The ventral fins are mainly useful as a brake when the fish wishes to come to a sudden stop when in motion, or for a backward move- ment ; the dorsal and anal fins serve the purpose of balancing the body. The gills, which are organs of respiration, are situated on each side of the head, protected by "opercles" or gill-covers, (fig. -f.) The gills themselves consist of bony arches which are covered with a tissue containing a large number of blood-vessels. As a rule there are four of these arches on each side of the head. The life-giving principle that supports animal .life is a gas called oxygen, and as this exists in the water, the function of the gills is to extract it. When the water passes through them, as it does when taken in by the mouth of the fish, and is pressed through the gills, it comes in con- tact with the blood-vessels, the oxygen being absorbed into the blood for the nourishment of that fluid and the body generally. It will thus be seen that it is not the water that the fish breathes, as many suppose, but the air contained in it, as can be proved by placing fish in water from which the air has been taken, by pro- longed boiling or otherwise. Fish that are kept in a vessel will come up to the surface where the air can be mixed with the water when that in the water of the vessel has become exhausted. It would seem from the fact that as the fish breathes only the air and not the water, that it could just as well live in the open air, where it could get plenty. , Such is not the case, however, for the gills are so constituted by nature that they 48 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. need something to keep them apart, so that their surfaces may be exposed and perform their functions properly, otherwise they would close together, the blood-vessels would cease to absorb the oxygen, resulting, of course, in the death of the fish. It is necessary, then, that a stream of water should constantly flow through them, as it does, the absorption of oxygen then going on as nature intended. The heart of 'the fish lies just behind the head and between the gills (fig. g.). It is a muscular organ consisting of three parts, an auricle, a ventricle, and an arterial bulb. The venous or stale blood is pumped into the gills by the heart, where it receives a fresh supply of oxygen. From the gills it is sent to an arterial trunk, lying along the under side of the vertebral column, (fig. h.) from which it is distributed all over the body of the fish. As fish have no lungs, they can not possess a voice. The goldfish is supplied with a divided air-bladder (h^ i. i.) which can be filled or emptied at will. This bladder is a sac formed of a tough membrane, and is situated between the spinal column and the stomach, (fig. k.) It appears that the air-bladder is either for the. purpose of increas- ing the weight of the fish when empty, and decreasing it when full, thus exercising a modifying influence upon the weight of the fish when compared with that of the water. The eyes of the goldfish are well developed, but so far as hearing is concerned, opinions differ, and the question is still disputed. It may be stated that if fish hear at all, it is with great difficulty. It is the custom in some places where fish are kept to call them to their feeding place by the tolling of a bell, and they come, but it is a question whether they come because they hear the sound, or that they see the motion of the person ringing the bell, or that of the bell itself; this, then, can not be cited in proof of the theory that they hear. THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 49 Music or the report of firearms does not affect them at all, but the flash from the discharged gun will scare them. Do fish sleep ? Yes. In the act of sleeping they do not close the eyelids, for the very good reason that they have none; neither do they select the night for the purpose. Goldfish have been seen asleep in the broad sun- light of the forenoon, and the same varieties have also been found sleeping at midnight. Their time for resting then, does not occur at stated periods, but whenever the desire comes upon them. The fish may very easily be observed in slumber, remaining perfectly still, the only motion being that of the breathing apparatus and the pectoral fins, the action being very slow but regular. All the other fins are at rest, and the pupils of the eyes appear to be drawn back. The other senses taste and smell are very well developed. We come now to the consideration of the process of reproduction, The organs for this purpose are distributed between two individuals the male and the female. The female organs consist of two sacs located immediately below the spinal column on each side of the air bladder, uniting towards the posterior end in a single oviduct which discharges outside, behind the anus (fig 1.). These contain the eggs by thousands and which increase in size when the spawning season arrives, greatly distending the ovarian sacs.- The ripe egg when it separates from the ovary, passes through a tube (the oviduct) (fig. m,) the opening of which, as before stated, is outside, immediately behind the anus. (fig. n.) In the male fish the spermatic organs which are located the same as the sacs in the female, secrete a thick white fluid which contains innumerable small organic bodies, which when discharged and in a fresh condition, move about, enter the egg, impregnate it and start the development of the embryo. These bodies which are called spermatazoa, consist of an anterior thicker part, the so-called head, 50 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. and the more attenuated part or tail. In the water these little organ- isms can live but one or two minutes, but when taken from the fish and placed in a bottle kept at a proper temperature, they may be preserved alive for six days. This discovery was made by a Russian fish culturist in 1856 and is very important to the artificial propagation of ftsh as it enables, the crossing of different species. The eggs when first spent in the water have the shape of a slightly pressed in rubber ball, and as soon as they come in contact with liquid, they expand and suck it in through a microscopically small 75 hole. (See illustration. ) The spermatic germs P of the male being present in this liquid are thus introduced and fertilize the egg. A Spermatic Corpuscle. B Germinative Disk. FERTILIZATION OP FISH EGG. C Nutritive Yolk. The fecundation of the egg consists in the entry of the spermatic corpuscles and the subsequent production of a subdivision of the germinative disc, which chenomenon is called the process of "seg- mentation " or "furrowing." This is followed by a series of successive changes, of which the final result is the embryo, which, subsisting or being nourished by the yolk, gradually develops into the perfect fish. The young fish when first hatched is supplied with a sac called \h& yolk-bag, from which it derives its nourishment during the early period of its independent existence. When this has been exhausted it is then ready to seek other food and this it finds in various microscopic organisms that exist in profuse abundance in the water. As the fish grows larger and gains strength, other and coarser food is sought and devoured. CHAPTER X. PROPAGATION. Among fish culturists it is the universal custom to divide fishes into two classes according to the season in which they spawn; we thus have summer spawning and winter spawning fish. They are further more distinguished as they differ in the mode of depositing the eggs, as some are laid on or in receptacles usually called "nests," especially prepared by the fish for that purpose, and others again are dropped loosely into the water without any precautions having been taken for their protection. In the latter case they again differ in being either "adhesive" or "non-adhesive," in the one instance adhering to anything they may happen to touch and remaining until hatched, in the other sinking to the bottom or floating about at random on the surface. The goldfish belongs to the summer spawning class, builds no nest and its eggs are adhesive in the full sense of the word. In those fish depositing non-adhesive eggs, the extrusion of them by hand, and their artificial impregnation is profitable, but with the carp-like fishes, a higher percentage of young is obtained when the spawning is allowed to proceed in its natural manner. Besides, their eggs not being mature all at the same time, would make the operation of extrusion an oft-to-be repeated affair, and which, furthermore, would greatly endanger the life of the fish and require much time and attention. 51 52 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. Goldfish raising is therefore confined to : I. Guiding Nature with regard to the tl survival of the fittest, " and with it of course the pure strain. II. Assisting Nature by securing suitable spawning resorts. III. Regulating the spawning season, and IV. Protecting their spawn and young. SELECTION OF BREEDERS. As soon as the spring weather sets in with sufficient sunshine to affect the temperature of the water, the fish in their winter quarters rise near the surface and become lively again. This is the time to get the spawning beds ready for action. Whatever month or date that may be. is determined by the respective locality of the ponds, viz., their situation in a northern or southern climate, and there, whether they are exposed or protected. The beds are then filled with water to the proper level, and all details concerning the pond are attended to, so that it will be in complete running order. When all is ready, the fish from which it is intended to breed are selected, and right here reside the fundamental conditions upon which depend the production of a good and saleable crop of fish. The fish used to breed from should be healthy in every respect, of good shape and color, and of gentle, fully domesticated habits. All these qualities will be inherited by their young. In regard to the color of the fish, it is of great importance -to know at what age this was acquired, as such fish that colored at an age of six to eight weeks transmit the same tendency to their young on an average of 98%. In contrast with this, those fish whose coloring was delayed until the second year, when bred, produce but 5% of young that will color in the first year, while the remainder do not assume their red, yellow, or white coloring until the second year, a great many never changing, always remaining " silver" fish. THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 53 The coloring attained by the fish generally remains so, though there are instances in which the red markings may become milky white, and what was previously white changes to red, or black spots may appear, or if present, be lost. This may occur either wholly or in part. A satisfactory reason for this phenomenon can not be given. The selection of faultless beauties for breeding purposes, how- ever, is not absolutely necessary, such specimens are best kept for exposition purposes. Any fish whose fins may have become injured in any way, by accident or otherwise, but have grown again in some crooked or objectionable shape, are nevertheless perfectly fit for the spawning bed, if they are otherwise in perfect condition, though for ornamental purpose they would be of little account. It may be remarked in this connection, and with propriety, that certain peculiarities in the shape of foreign fish, /. epot : -No. 5O7 Rae Street, CINCINNATI, OHIO. NATIVE AND FOREIGN ORNAMENTAL FISH, Amphibians for ornamental and scientific purposes. Aquatic Plants of Every Description, Native and Foreign. * Aquaria Tanks all shapes, sizes and prices, of Cast-iron, Sheet Metal, Terra Cotta and Cincinnati Faience, elaborate in designs and of serviceable structure. Aquarium Supplies i GERMAN TUFFSTONE, TUFFSTONE ORNAMENTS, CASTLES, SEA-SAND, AQUARIUM CEMENT, AQUARIUM TOOLS, PREPARED FISH-FOOD, etc. Importer and Grower DUTCH HYACINTH AND TULIP BULBS, GERMAN GLADIOLI, LILIES, IRIS AND TUBEROSES. HUGO MULERTT, AidsforTeaching Natural History BROOKLYN, N. Y. 14 DAY USE r RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. This book is due on the last date stamped below, or on the date to which renewed. Renewals only: Tel. No. 642-3405 Renewals may be made 4 days prior to date due. Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. WED w, or all. EEC'DLD REC'DLD FEB237? ': 6 rra 1081 LD21A-50m-2,'71 (P2001slO)476 A-32 General Library Uoiversity of California Berkeley tfma YC 20271