
AQUARIUM SOCIETIES 

Four or more periodicals are published under the auspices ot 
these Societies, a weekly, two fortnightly and a monthly; devoted to pop- 
ular zoological, ichthyological and botanical study and the elucidation of 
subjects of interest to their members. 
A Society of this kind has been established in Philadelphia since 
1898, and has accomplished much to popularize the aquarium, its inhab- 
itants and its maintenance. To encourage this both interesting study and 
beautifier of the home, some descriptions of this Society and its proceed- 
ings will be of interest. 
The Aquarium Society of Philadelphia, on January 1, 1908, had 128 
active members, a number of which reside in neighboring cities. Its 
purpose is more particularly the propagation of the finer breeds of the 
goldfish and the keeping of freshwater aquaria. The sessions occur 
monthly, except June, July and August. Set topics of interest are dis- 
cussed, exhibitions take place, prizes are awarded and inquiries from any 
source are invited and answered. 
PorInTs FOR THE JUDGMENT OF GotprisHEs. Authorities differ some- 
what in the standards for judging goldfishes in prize competitions and as 
as to their respective merits as fine specimens. Dr. E. Bade, one of the 
best-known German ichthyologists, advocates the following scales in awards: 




| Pectoral | Color. 
Body Caudal | Dorsal | and | Double | Scaled or ec 
(hin 9) fin | Ventral | anal fins | Pransparent- sak 
Japanese Fringetail | fins | | ly Scaled ie 
Goldfish | | 
Boe) 20 20 | 20 Sn oa ee 
| 



A long body would, for instance, take from the merit of the fish as 
many as 30 points and would in no case permit of over 70 points in its 
favor, or should the anal fin be single, its merit would not be over 95 points. 
If the body is not sufficiently rotund, but short and otherwise acceptable, 
then its merit as to body would be expressed by not over 20 to 25 
points, and so with the other details of the fish. 
For the Chinese Telescope goldfish he advocates the standard of: 



| Becton Color. 
Caudal | Dorsal and Double | Scaled or Poi 
eae aye fin fin Ventral | anal fins |Transparent- ae 
fins | ly Scaled 
| 
| 
30 30 10 10 10 eee | 5 100 
