The practice of selling off stock of little value after the third selection is based in part on the 

 circumstance that the fish destined to be white, and therefore most undesirable when grown, can 

 then l>e distinguished from those that will develop a red or variegated coloration. By discarding 

 the unfit and unprofitable the remaining fish have more food and room, and their growth and 

 vitality are thereby promoted. 



The sorting of the oranda shishigashira begins when the fish have been out of the egg 25 

 days and are about a fourth of an inch long. In the first examination, from two-fifths to two- 

 thirds of the fry are discarded and sold as soon as possible; and 15 days later the reserve stock 

 is transferred to a freshly-prepared mud pond at the rate of 8 fish to the square foot. The second 

 sorting comes about the end of July, when the coloration may be more accurately gauged; at this 

 time white fish and those with badly formed caudal fin are eliminated. Two other selections are 

 made with reference to the shape of the caudal, and by autumn the number of fish remaining may 

 be only 4 or 5 to the square foot. After being carried through the winter in the mud ponds 

 without further sorting, all are sold in spring with the exception of those retained for rearing as 

 brood fish. 



The fry of the ryukin variety that have been fed for two weeks from earthenware trays in 

 the mud ponds are enticed into scoop nets or gauze-lined baskets by means of food, and as they are 

 sorted they are put into recently flooded ponds. Selection at this age is based on shape of caudal 

 fin and size of fish. Three to four weeks later there is another sorting according to size, and at 

 the same time the fish without color are discarded. By the end of summer the elimination of the 

 inferior specimens has proceeded so far that the ponds are stocked at the rate of 8 to 10 fish 

 ]>er square foot, instead of 60 per square foot at the outset. Early in the next spring all the fish are 



75 



