TROPICAL AQUARIUM FISHES 



43 



descriptive than "fringetail," a word more apt to describe the split and 

 ragged ends of the fins of a fish out of condition. 



In competitions goldfish are divided into the scaled and "scaleless" 

 classes, the latter being transparently scaled. The scaled fishes are colored 

 gold (metallic red) silver (metallic drab or smoke) pearl (metallic white) 

 and moors (blacks). The first should be of a deep shade of red. The 

 second is a transitory color and varies but little. As a color value it ranks 

 low. The pearl is a grade higher, but light colors in general are not 

 favored. Moors should be a deep, purple-black, free from the appearance 

 of a white scum. These blacks are never completely black under the 

 belly. It is at this point that they usually begin to turn red, which is 

 liable to happen to a moor at any age. 



"Scaleless" fishes are divided into red, white, mottled and calico. 

 The preferred shade of red is of the deep, oxblood color. White ranks 

 lowest. Mottled is a combination of red and white, while the highest 

 prized is the calico, a combination of all the colors in finely divided spots. 

 In this class the all-important color is blue or lavender, the deeper the 

 better, and also the more the better. The ideal calico has a body back- 

 ground of blue, red and white, over which is a sprinkling of fine black 

 dots. The black dots and some red ones are also freely distributed over 

 all the fins, which are otherwise white in these and all "scaleless" fishes. 

 The highest development of this color seldom occurs under the age of 

 from two to three years. 



In the opinion of the writer, societies should avoid too frequent 

 competitive exhibitions. They promote discord and tend to develop pro- 

 fessionalism. Those truly interested in the development of the fancy 

 will be willing to bring out their fish without thought of reward other 

 than giving pleasure to their friends and the public. 



OFFICIAL CHARTS 



Showing Ideal Figures of the Principal Goldfish Varieties, 

 Together with Valuation Points 



Copyris;hted by Franklin Barrett 



Fig. 26. Swallowtail Comet 



Fig. 27. Veiltail Comet 



