WHOLESALE BREEDING 219 



fore in the rearing ponds it should be used simply for filling. In fact, 

 actively running water is not used in any of the rearing ponds. It is 

 let in by sluices, pumped in or flowed in from higher levels as needed. 



From a practical standpoint the spring water section of a goldfish 

 farm, if present at all, is a small proportion of the whole. Water from 

 a good unpolluted stream must usually be depended upon for the main 

 supply. 



Ground Levels . It is better for the source of water to come from 

 above, so as to flow into the various pools without the expense of pump- 

 ing. But another important matter is to have a stream bed or other 

 place of discharge below the entire pond system. This not only for 

 emptying the ponds, but for taking care of surface drainage during pro- 

 tracted heavy rains or cloudbursts. In fact this matter of taking care 

 of excess rain water is one of the most important to be worked out in 

 planning the general lay-out. Each piece of ground presents its own 

 problems, but usually ponds are maintained at a level about six inches 

 below the overflow point, to take care of emergencies. The screened 

 overflow itself usually discharges either into another pond or into a ditch 

 or trench leading to the final discharge point of the farm. In general 

 a fish farm should be located on a gentle slope with the water supply at 

 the top, and preferably on a tract which is not the concentration point 

 of a large water-shed above it. 



Shipping. Good work on the fish farm can be undone in a few 

 hours by improper shipping. Of course we all know that the fish must 

 not ibe overcrowded in the cans. Ordinarily in a 15-gallon can there 

 should be placed no more than 150 common fish of three-inch size for 

 24-hour travel. Fewer for hot weather and fewer for fancy breeds. But 

 one of the main things is to get the cans moving as shortly after loading 

 as possible, and to keep them moving until delivery. The vibration of 

 travel (no doubt owing to splashing) oxygenates the water and so helps 

 the fish. For this reason, especially in summer, it has been found that 

 truck shipments are superior to rail transportation, because there is 

 more vibration on trucks, but also in rail shipment it is almost unavoid- 

 able that the cans stand still for a fairly long time (in rail transfers 

 and in stations prior to final delivery). These still periods are when 

 the suffocation occurs. 



Formerly it was thought necessary for a fish farm to be near an 

 express office, but since the advent of the automobile it is more important 

 to secure low-priced ground and corresponding taxes rather than be a 

 short distance from the express company. And of express companies 

 it is only fair to say that they are appreciative of the problems of the 

 shipper of live fish and do all in their power to make good deliveries. 



