
THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOLDFISH 

successful season, should produce many thousands of goldfishes of both 
the common and the highly prized Oriental breeds, for which there would 
always be a constant and remunerative demand. The Paradise Fish, Ide 
and Tench could also be cultivated. 
Ponp Aquaria. Vol. VII of the Bulletins of the U. S. Fish Com- 
mission, 1887, gives two excellent suggestions for pond aquaria which are 
here reproduced and no better explanation can be given than to quote the 
accompanying article by Mr. Wm. P. Seal:— 
«<With this idea in view I offer the following suggestion for the consideration of those in- 
terested in the establishment of large aquaria, hoping for further development through interchange 
of ideas. 
The plan or principle herein suggested might be termed not inaptly Pond-Aquaria, it being 
essentially a combination of the pond and the aquarium; the aquaria being constructed on the 
margin of the pond or reservoir used, as shown in the accompanying illustration, Fig. 61; the 


ee EN ae oe = 
TTT Wess = SEN Pk \7 
\_1 a= 
\———N 

















ai 












Wa 

QL LY YY Uf Yj 
Yj Yi}. WI) 4). Y Ve Li YW YY / 
RONd Aquaria, 
FIG. 61 Pond Aquarium. 


GA 
idea being to have a water-pen or pond-garden (A) extending back from each aquarium front, 
and to be surrounded by a wire or other fence or partition (B) of sufficiently small mesh to pre- 
vent the escape of the occupants, but large enough to allow the smaller fry, which would furnish 
them with food, to pass through freely. (C) represents the glass fronts. (D) the upper or 
perforated aquarium bottom, which allows the escape to a lower funnel-shaped bottom (E) of 
all sedimentary deposits. (F) represents rocky eminences containing pockets, in which could be 
planted aquatic vegetation at depths adapted to their needs. The whole creating a close ap- 
proximation of natural conditions. An arrangement of wire gates would keep fishes in close 
confinement for short periods for observation, or would keep some, while others were allowed 
to roam at will in their domain. 
Fig. 61a represents a cross-section of the same, showing building over the aquaria, and 
greenhouse roof to pond-gardens. 
The advantages of some such plan will, I think, be apparent to all who have experience 
on the subject at least. It is simply imitating nature more closely and getting rid of artificialities. 
The conditions would afford natural vegetation, sunlight, mud, sand, and rocks, with 
abundance of room in which to move about freely and seek for natural food. 
By such a plan also the necessity for circulatory apparatus is dispensed with, the circula- 
tion caused by the movements of the fishes, changes of temperature and evaporation, together with 
the aeration or oxygenation affected by the plant life being ample, as in the pond. 
109 
