[135] PO^D CULTUKE. 5()9 



One of the largest goldtisL establisliments is that of Mr. Oliiistiaii 

 Wagner, at Oldenburg-. It extends over a moist peaty bottom, em- 

 biaces an area of about 3 hectares, and consists of 120 ponds, measur- 

 ing about 100 square meters each, and separated from each other only 

 by narrow dikes. These ponds receive their water partly through 

 ditches from the river llunte, and i)artly from a factory, and from other 

 ponds. i>y means of steam the tem[)erature of the Avater can be raised 

 to from 30 to 50 degrees II. [99^ to 144i degrees F.]. The ponds are di- 

 vided into (1) s})awning ponds, ('J) raising ])onds, (,">) i)oiids for harden- 

 ing the skin of the li.s]i,and (4) coloring ponds. 



The spawning ponds and the ponds for hardening the skin of tlu^ lish 

 are fed principally by water coming from the bottom of the i)()n(ls. 

 The water of these j)onds is almost stagnant, but is occasionally agi- 

 tated by leading river Avater into the ponds. Alihoiigh the water in 

 these ponds is occasionally only 15 centimeters deep, their usual depth 

 is about GO centimeters, and near the outflow i)ii)es as much as 120 

 centimeters. The bottom of these ponds, which is puri)osely kept 

 uneven, is here and there covered with aquatic plants, on which the 

 goldfish like to deposit their eggs. Owing to the artificial heating of 

 the water and an abundant supply of the best and most nourishing 

 tood, the majority of the fish in these ponds reach their sexual maturity 

 in the twelfth month, and spawn two or three times a year. Under fa- 

 vorable circumstances the first fry is obtained in March or Ai)ril ; Ihe sec- 

 ond fry is forced, so as to make its appearance in July or even soonei'; 

 ! and the the third generally comes in August or September. Tlie female 

 fish are changed round froiu time to time, so that the same females and 

 ^ males do not remain k)gcther too long. In rare cases a goldfish is ca- 

 ( pable of spawning for more than three years. To supply the fry with 

 suitable lood, especially insects, the raising ])onds are drained seven to 

 < eight weeks before they are stocked with fry, and are allowed to lie diy 

 during that period. The natural food is occasionally supplemented by 

 j blood in clots or lumps, refuse fiom slaughter-houses, or malt germs, all 

 ; of which are i>laced in shallow portions of the pond. If this method of 

 j feeding is applied, the fry will double their weight in one week, and 

 ' reach a length of 3 to 6 centimeters in autumn. Their marketable size, 

 , however, they do not reach till the end of the second summer. IJajiid 

 I artificial coloring is obtained by water containing iron, lime, and tannin. 

 I Mr. Wagner's ponds contain a good deal of iron, but in spite of this he 

 I increases its quantity artificially. Fish in the Prussian (black and 

 I white) and German (black, white, and red) national colors are in great 

 ' demand, and by undergoing a suitable treatment a fish which is origi- 

 1 nally red and white can easily be transformed into a black, white, and 

 ' red fish. If fish which have reached a suitable size for globes or aqua- 

 , ria, do not show the proper color, they are placed in the coloring pond, 

 l] where they are exposed to the rays of the sun which soon completes 

 r their coloring. Occasionally, however, the sun may i)rove dangerous. 



