J 
THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOLDFISH 
As previously stated, the goldfish is oviparous and the spawn is 
fecundated after extrusion. Figure 54. The almost transparent white or 
yellowish eggs are about one-sixteenth inch in diameter and when first ex- 
truded havea slightly flattened, lentél 
shaped appearance but upon fecunda- 
tion assume a globular form. Fer- 
tilized eggs retain their translucent ap- 
pearance, but the unfertilized eggs 
become opaque or milky. The 
hatching of the ova takes place in 
from three to seven days, dependent 
upon the season of the year and the 
temperature of the water; and con- 
sists of the germination of the yolk, 
the development of the embrio, and 
the final evolution of the alévin or 
coe arene nccotee wc lest etiny ity still attacheus to the yolksac, 
of an aquatic plant. Enlarged about : : ; 
two anda half diameters. upon which it nourishes for some 
days after hatching. Figure 55 will explain the metamorphosis of the 
egg and the development of the fry, the greatly enlarged illustration being 
that of a June hatching of spawn ofa mottled male and a red and white 
female Chinese Telescope goldfish ; and is (1) the newly exuded unfecun- 
dated ova, full and lateral views; (2) the ova four and ten hours after 
fecundation, showing germination and formation of the membrane; (3) the 
development of the embrio and plasmic processes at the edge of the mem- 
brane, twenty-four and thirty-six hours after fecundation; (4) development 
of the alevin and yolksac, fifty and fifty-six hours after fecundation; (5) 
free-swimming alevin attached to the yolksac, four days old; (6) alevin five 
days old; (7) the same seven days old; (8) the fully developed young fry 
ten days old. 

ArtTIFICIAL ImprEGNATION. The author knows of no successful at- 
tempts at the artificial impregnation of the spawn of goldfishes, though 
this is successfully done with the eggs of the larger food fishes, and has 
increased the number of fertile eggs from 50% to 80% or go% over the 
natural method of fecundation. Attempts in this direction would be most 
interesting, and there is no doubt of its being practiced by the Oriental 
breeders. 
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