The ryukin requires at least four years to attain full development of its most attractive feature — the 

 caudal fin. 



In all newly-hatched fish the body is uniformly covered with a black pigment, which is an accom- 

 paniment of infancy and gradually disappears in the course of normal growth. The black covering 

 begins to fade in the first summer and ordinarily within a year gives place to the adult coloration. 

 The fish whose color changes earliest are likely to become white or while and red, while those that 

 retain their original dark pigment longest are likely u> he uniformly red. Many ryukins become 

 striped before the initial color entirely disappears and leaves the body white. Fish that become 

 entirely white meet with no favor and are always weeded out at the first opportunity, but a predomi- 

 nance of white may make very acceptable fish if associated with red fins and bright red blotches on 

 head. 



Some interesting facts, bearing on the question of heredity, have been brought to the notice of 

 the goldfish breeders. The observations and developments have a rather important economic aspect, 

 hut have not been sufficiently correlated to warrant any general conclusions at this time in view of 

 the complex, often unknown, ancestry of particular brood fish. 



Because of the persistency with which the Japanese goldfish culturists endeavor to maintain and 

 improve their stock by careful selection of breeders, it is noteworthy that even the long-established 

 varieties have a most heterogeneous progeny, and in some instances breed true to the extent of only 

 about 60 per cent. In the case of the oranda, a Koriyama culturist reports that in his experience there 

 may be expected 40 per cent of sports, consisting of about 30 per cent of fish having the form of 

 tlu- wild species, 5 per cent wakins with deformed tails, and 5 per cent ranchus, together with a few 

 ryukins. 



78 



