VIII JAPANESE GOLDFISH IN AMERICA 







Historical and Other 'Notes, 



HE direct importation of oriental goldfish was accomplished at a comparatively recent 

 date. The earliest lot of fish to arrive appear to have heen those brought over by 

 Rear-Admiral Ammen about 1878. From this stock came fish presented to Prof. 

 Spencer F. Baird, United States Fish Commissioner, which were extensively bred 

 from at the Fish Lakes in Washington. Later the importation of these fish was 

 taken up as a business enterprise on the Pacific coast, and attained large propor- 

 tions. The fish were first brought to the eastern States in commercial numbers by Mr. William P. 

 Seal, of Delair, New Jersey, who for some years prior to 1894 controlled the output and supplied 

 several thousands annually. At the present time one firm in San Francisco and another in Seattle 

 are regularly engaged in bringing Japanese (and Chinese) goldfish to this country. 



The variety that has been most extensively imported is the ryukin, or fringetail. A few fish of 

 the oranda variety have withstood transportation and reached the hands of breeders; and in Philadel- 



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