32 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 



As before stated, there are many enemies which prey upon the 

 goldfish, and all of which are to be guarded against in the construc- 

 tion of the ponds in which they are expected to live and increase. 

 If left alone and without the protection of man, the circumstances 

 must be exceptionally favorable under which they can thrive and 

 multiply. For the systematic raising of goldfish, therefore, a series 

 of ponds is indispensable, each of which is constructed and arranged 

 to meet the requirements of the specific purpose for which it is 

 intended. All of them, however, are based upon the same funda- 

 mental principle and must have adjustable inlets and outlets, other- 

 wise they can not be under complete control, the reason for which 

 a little experience will soon explain. The number of ponds needed 

 for the culture of goldfish does not exceed four, and in their order 

 are the spawning-pond, rearing-pond, storage-pond, and winter-pond. 

 The spawning-ponds or "beds" are those ponds in which the parent 

 fish are placed when the breeding time arives, and are to be kept 

 there throughout the duration of that season, and solely for the 

 purpose of depositing the eggs. The rearing-ponds are those in 

 which the young fry is placed or "planted" and to keep them until 

 they are of a marketable size. The storage-ponds are for the purpose 

 of keeping saleable stock until wanted, and in a situation readily 

 accessible at a moment's notice. The last in order is the winter-pond, 

 in which the parent fish, and those of the younger that are intended 

 for the same purpose, are carried through the inclemencies of the 

 winter. 



The greatest depth of all the ponds, the winter-pond excepted, 

 should not be made to exceed twenty-four (24) inches, and this to be 

 at that end where the outlet is placed. From twenty-four inches at 

 one end the depth should gradually decrease until the water depth 

 at the head is not greater than six (6) inches. (See illustration.) 



The upper edges of the dams of the ponds should not be less 



