THE WORLD'S FAIR FISH 



It may seem heartless to destroy the illusions \ 

 concerning the so-called "World's Fair Goldfish" \ 

 mentioned in connection with my name imder the 

 caption of "Our Medal," in January Xotes axd 

 Xews, especially as it appears to have become a 

 historical piscatorial celebrity, a sort of exalted 

 standard of its kind. It was once heralded as 

 "The five-thousand-dollar goldfish" in a full-page 

 article illustrated in color in a Philadelphia Sun- 

 day newspaper. I have also heard its cost esti- 

 mated at hundreds of dollars, as well as many 

 other exaggerations concerning it. 



Insomuch as the history of the fish was of suf- 

 ficient importance to inspire misrepresentations, 

 the real facts concerning it should be at least 

 of equal interest. 



The facts are briefly as follows: The AViscon- 

 sin Fish Commission bought two himdred im- 

 ported Japanese Fantail Goldfish for their exhibit 

 at the Columbian Exposition. Unfortimatelv, 

 these were infected by the disease commonly 

 known as "tail-rot," "fin-rot," etc., and died off 

 very rapidly. When all were dead but seven they 

 were given to me to experiment with by James 

 Nevin, Superintendent of the Wisconsin Commis- 

 sion. This was before the opening of the Expo- 

 sition. I succeeded in saving three or four of 

 them, which I brought to Fhiladelnhia. Two of 

 them, a male and a female, one the pure pearl 

 fi^h subsequently exploited as the "World's Fair 

 Fish," and pictured as red in color, were sold to 

 a Philadelphia fancier for fifteen dollars; but 

 this fi^h at that time had not attained anythinsr 

 like the later development of its fins. In fact, 

 at that time it was not better than thousands of 

 others that are imported everv vear and sold at 

 low prices. It was not exhibited at the World's 

 Fair, and would only have attrarted attention 

 as one of a tankful if thev had lived. 



At that period of its development the apex or 

 dorsal ridge of its tail slanted upward at an angle 

 of about 45 degrees, and, altogether, it was a par- 

 ticularly symmetrical and promising type of fish. 



At that time these fish cost thirteen dollars per 



