/ 



hundred at San Francisco, so that this particular 

 fish began its career in the United States with a 

 value of thirteen cents, finally attaining a myth- 

 ical newspaper value of five thousand dollars. It 

 might as well have been ten or twenty-five thou- 

 sand. I have photographs of fish of the long- 

 bodied type, with fins even longer than those of 

 the "World's Fair Fish," that were bred from 

 the stock brought from Japan for Admiral Ammen 

 about 1878. 



The Japanese exhibit contained no speciiuens 

 except a few large and inferior type specimens 

 in alcohol. Some live ones, intended as a present 

 to the United States Fish Commission, died on 

 the ocean. 



It is all a matter of small importance, but is 

 interesting as an example of the unscientific atti- 

 tude that promotes and fosters the birth and 

 growth of mvths and traditions. 



W. P. Seal. 



:WHAT should be the FUNDAMENTAL 



BASIS OR STANDARD OF MERIT 



IN JUDGING AN AQUARIUM 



(This expression of opinion on the subject was 

 written in response to a request by the editor 

 of Notes axd News.) 



In the earlier English books on the aquarium the 

 ground was taken that the term aquarium could 

 only properly be applied to such an adjustment 

 of the relations between the plant and animal 

 life therein as to make it self-sustaining; that the 

 vessel used should be termed an aquarium tank, 

 and when operated by any artificial device by 

 which aeration or change of water is effected, it 

 should be termed a fish tank. It is not certain 

 that this view is still upheld over there, but it 

 does not seem ever to have been accepted in this 

 coimtry. But until recently there has never been 

 any association of fanciers who might consider it. 

 In support of the idea we have fish glolies, bell 

 glasses or tanks, battery jars, etc., which are not 

 termed aquaria imtil they are stocked. It is a 

 Question that h^s many viewpoints and is open to 

 discussion. It is not strictly pertinent to the 



