plenty of food and have the water in their pond frequently changed or if they are transferred 

 to another pond. 



At the approach of the spawning time the fishes' colors become brighter, the abdomen in the 

 female begins to enlarge owing to the growth of the ovaries, and there appear on the head of the 

 males peculiar excrescences ("pearl organs") that may be too small easily to be seen but are 

 readily detected by touch. The fish crowd together in the ponds and make much commotion as 

 they splash and jostle. They eventually separate into pairs, or rather each male attaches himself 

 to a female, pursuing her, swimming around her, and rubbing her abdomen with his roughened 

 snout and opercles. Sometimes two or three males will follow a female. As the time for spawning 

 comes nearer, the attention of the males becomes more assiduous and the ripening and loosening 

 of the eggs are doubtless facilitated by their actions. 



Goldfish begin to breed when two years old and continue to spawn for six or seven years or 

 even longer, but the best brood fish are those that are three, four or five years old. The fish three 

 and four years old are the most satisfactory. After the fifth year the spawning capacity rapidly 

 diminishes, and fish so old, having served for breeding purposes, are usually sold and make useful 

 aquarium objects for many years thereafter. The normal age attained by the more hardy varieties 

 is sixteen or seventeen years. 



The fish of suitable age for breeding purposes are subjected to careful and critical examination, 

 and a selection is made of those whose mating is most likely to produce the qualities most desired 

 in the offspring. In addition to physical vigor, the general form of body, character of fins, and 

 pattern of coloration are duly considered, with reference to the special fashions in vogue in the 

 community and the requirements of the trade. 



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