
THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOLDFISH 

with varying success, as the results of a season’s labors depend upon many 
conditions not yet fully understood but which longer experience may rem- 
edy. Success with directly imported Japanese and Chinese goldfishes 1s 
equally uncertain; the mortality before arrival, from diseases, contracted 
during transit and before acclimatization, being in such proportion as 
to make this also a precarious business venture. Importations are made 
during the most favorable season, the late fall, winter and early spring 
months, but the results are usually such assoon to discourage many enthu- 
siasts who otherwise would become profitable customers. The survivors 
in the home aquarium are so very few that American bred fishes of the 
choice imported breeds are more desirable and command higher prices, as 
the percentage of fatalities of imported stock is so considerable as to pre- 
vent a profitable venture. 
The greatest discouragement to the breeder is the failure to raise a 
large proportion of the fishes hatched. This may be due to easily 
explained reasons or possibly caused by mistakes made in remote stages 
of the development of the eggs or of the parent fishes; and when the fry 
perish in unusual numbers, it is not sufficient to seek the cause in recent 
occurrences but all the conditions of feeding and care of the parents as well 
the young should be considered and corrections made in the future. At 
best, the survivals are usually small in proportion to the number hatched 
and even the most experienced breeders do not expect a greater survival 
than 20 to 25 percent. of the most promising hatches which have arrived at 
an age of two or three weeks, after which he should separate the finer de- 
veloped fishes from the less desirable ones, and of these rarely over § per- 
cent. will be fishes which will be considered perfect in conformation and 
development by the expert fancier. 
The least touch will affect the mucous membrane of the alevin and may 
lay the foundation for a future fungus development, and the fry from very 
young fishes or those which have not received a sufficient supply of oxygen 
by overcrowding, or those of parents which have not had a frequent change 
of water to act as a stimulant some little time before spawning, are usually 
weaklings and do not survive. Young fishes should be handled with a 
spoon and never taken out of the water. 
The constantly growing demand for goldfishes is such that extensive 
cultivation is certain to be remunerative. In the Eastern States, at some 
seasons of the year, the supply is often exhausted and dealers complain that 
fishes are hardor impossible to get; which applies to both the common and 
the fine breeds and assures a ready market to breeders having the facilities 
for keeping their stock until times of greatest demand, usually at the Christ- 
mas season and in the spring when the breeding fishes are sought. 
102 
