240 FISH CULTURE 



drilling a hole in the base near one end, and putting 

 in a drain-pipe, which ought to be a little larger than 

 necessary to carry off the ordinary overflow, as it 

 may be imperative to turn on for a while a much 

 heavier stream from the supplying pipe. 



Many persons on purchasing or making an 

 aquarium are impatient to put it to use im- 

 mediately, but this is a mistake. Wash the 

 tank a number of times, and change the water 

 frequently for a week or ten days before stock- 

 ing it. After being washed and filled tbe first 

 time, heavily impregnate the water with salt, 

 and allow the solution to remain for two or 

 three days to thoroughly purify the aquarium; 

 replace this with fresh water, and change sev- 

 eral times in the next two or three days. Not 

 until then ought the water intended for the 

 fish to be introduced. 



In the meantime, a quantity of river, stream, 

 or bird sand may be secured, sufficient to cover 

 the bottom of the aquarium to a depth of two 

 or three inches. If it is river or stream sand, 

 first wash it thoroughly in hot salt water and 

 repeat the washing until every particle of 

 vegetable matter and clay is removed. Dirty 



