52 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 



Goldfish raising is therefore confined to : 



I. Guiding Nature with regard to the tl survival of the fittest, " and with it 

 of course the pure strain. 



II. Assisting Nature by securing suitable spawning resorts. 

 III. Regulating the spawning season, and 



IV. Protecting their spawn and young. 







SELECTION OF BREEDERS. 



As soon as the spring weather sets in with sufficient sunshine to 

 affect the temperature of the water, the fish in their winter quarters 

 rise near the surface and become lively again. This is the time to 

 get the spawning beds ready for action. Whatever month or date 

 that may be. is determined by the respective locality of the ponds, 

 viz., their situation in a northern or southern climate, and there, 

 whether they are exposed or protected. The beds are then filled 

 with water to the proper level, and all details concerning the pond 

 are attended to, so that it will be in complete running order. When 

 all is ready, the fish from which it is intended to breed are selected, 

 and right here reside the fundamental conditions upon which depend 

 the production of a good and saleable crop of fish. The fish used to 

 breed from should be healthy in every respect, of good shape and 

 color, and of gentle, fully domesticated habits. All these qualities 

 will be inherited by their young. In regard to the color of the fish, 

 it is of great importance -to know at what age this was acquired, as 

 such fish that colored at an age of six to eight weeks transmit the 

 same tendency to their young on an average of 98%. In contrast 

 with this, those fish whose coloring was delayed until the second 

 year, when bred, produce but 5% of young that will color in the 

 first year, while the remainder do not assume their red, yellow, or 

 white coloring until the second year, a great many never changing, 

 always remaining " silver" fish. 



