From the earliest practicable dale after hatching up to the lime when full maturity is reached, 

 the o-oldfish are subjected to lejjeated exaiuinatidU with a view In the elimination of the undesirable 

 and unfit, so that the stock may be imi)roved and the expense of caring for fish of little value 

 obviated. The earlier selections are made with reference to form, while later both form and color 

 are considered. 



The selecting and sorting of the young in concrete ponds are done b\- drawing down the ponds, 

 dipping the fish into tubs bv means of small bowls, then transferring them to white earthenware plates 

 or trays, and finally taking theiu u\) a few at a time in small white-coated l)o\vls and examining them 

 with regard to the i)articular points under consideration. The fish being reared in mud ponds are 

 caught with dij) nets or with bamboo baskets lined with gauze, and are sometimes sorted on the spot 

 and transferred directly to other jKinds; to facilitate this a white earthenware ])latter is inserted in the net 

 or basket as a background. 



In the case of the ranchu, the Tokyo breeders and others whose methods are similar make many 

 selections during the early stages. The first overhauling comes about 3 weeks after hatching when 

 the young are so small that a sorting based on general characters is impossible, and only the size of the 

 caudal fin is considered, the fish with the best development of this organ being picked out and put in a 

 separate pond. .\t the second selection made 10 days later special attention is given to the symmetry 

 of the body. After another interval of 10 days there is a sorting according to size, and 10 days later 

 there is a final selection with particular reference to the shape of the caudal fin. With each examination 

 the more desirable fish are given larger pond space: and after the third sorting the \oung, having 

 reached a length of 1.2 to 1.25 inches, have a market value and those are sold that do not possess 

 the desired cjualities. 



74 



