BREEDING GOLDFISHES 207 



visible under an ordinary magnifying glass, will answer the purpose. 

 Collection can be made with nets of fine bolting cloth. If green water 

 can be had, some of it should be put in with the young fish. It contains 

 vegetable matter of value to very small fry. After the fry have notice- 

 ably increased in size they should be fed young daphnia which have been 

 screened through a fine wire tea strainer. As size increases, feed full- 

 size of daphnia. (See page 81.) 



In instances where it is not possible to secure living food for raising 

 young fishes they may be started on rice flour, yellow of egg forced 

 through bolting cloth or fishfood reduced to a powder and sifted 

 through cheese-cloth. As they increase in size an excellent diet is the 

 paste from boiled oatmeal after straining it through muslin or cheese- 

 cloth. Powdered shrimp or codfish as described on page 70 can be 

 added to the oatmeal to advantage. This oatmeal diet had best be fed 

 in a miniature fish globe, bowl or deep saucer submerged in the tank. 

 Scrambled egg with a little Cream of Wheat or Cream of Barley cooked 

 in it makes one of the best substitutes for live food, to be used after the 

 babies are six weeks old. Pancake flour (composed of different flours) 

 is good either to sprinkle on the water or cook into a paste. 



Whether fed on living or prepared food, young goldfish should be 

 fed very liberally. They will eat more than their own bulk in a day. 

 This is essential to securing large, strong stock of good constitution. They 

 eat almost constantly. It is better to feed several times daily than to 

 put in a whole day's supply at one time. With prepared food it is liable 

 to foul the water with long standing, or too many daphnia introduced at 

 one time exhaust the oxygen in the water. This lack of oxygen retards 

 growth and may produce suffocation. 



Forcing Growth. Contrary to previous theories, numbers of our 

 leading breeders now use a drip of water in the tanks with young fish 

 over one month old. In many cases this plan seems to produce remarka- 

 ble growth. The use of an ordinary overflow in this connection is inad- 

 visable, particularly if outdoors, as a heavy downpour of rain is liable to 

 carry off the small fish. If the tank used has an overflow pipe, a large 

 wire guard covered with cheesecloth will answer the purpose, but the 

 cloth should be renewed occasionally, as the water rots the fabric. In 

 a tub, a very good drain can be made by placing a two-inch collar 

 of stiff felt around the top. Secure the felt in position by securely 

 wrapping a cord around it as close to top of tub as possible, allowing the 

 felt to stand about one inch above sides of tub. This will not only secure 

 the young fish, but will prevent the loss of any daphnia by overflow. 



Best results are had in raising fishes outdoors, but one invites catas- 

 trophe by placing them out in the first warm spell of spring unless it is 



