THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 69 



this, a light focation is more beneficial to the color o the fish, and 

 also affords a better control of the contents. Such a store-tank may 

 consist of a large aquarium with glass sides, or it may be a wooden 

 .trough thirty (30) inches in width, ten (10) or twelve (12) inches in 

 depth, and of any convenient length. The frame to form the sides 

 and ends is made of one and one-half (i^) inch stuff, the bottom 

 being formed of flooring boards, as they are fitted with tongue and 

 groove. To make a tight job, pieces of flag leaves, such as are used 

 by coopers, are laid upon the edge of the frame, and the strips of 

 flooring board nailed down securely, one at a time. The groove 

 in each piece is thickly painted with pure white lead ground in oil, 

 the tongue of the next then being tightly fitted into it, and so on, 

 piece after piece, until the bottom has been completed. The best 

 way, probably, is to nail the flooring crosswise upon the frame, as 

 that makes the trough very strong and capable of carrying a con- 

 siderable weight of water, the smooth side of the boards is of course 

 turned towards the inside of the tank. 



Such a tank, however, when in operation should not contain a 

 greater depth than six (6) inches of water, rather less probably, both 

 for the convenience of catching the fish and the better admission of 

 light. The trough must be kept clean, every now and then removing 

 all the contents and thoroughly sponging the interior. 



This may appear to contradict the author's method of managing 

 an aquarium ; it may be said in explanation that dealers' tanks are, as 

 a rule, overstocked, and therefore require a somewhat different treat- 

 ment; they are, in comparison with a regular aquarium, the same as 

 a hotel is, compared with a private residence. 



While in the hands of the dealer the fish should receive a limited 

 but regular supply of food, and should disease make its appearance, 

 the sick fish are at once taken out and put by themselves. 



