THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 57 



roots can be tied to a string fastened to the shore, and allowed to 

 float about upon the water. When containing spawn, they can be 

 brought out merely by pulling the string, when the eggs can be 

 removed and taken care of by the one in charge. 



When the fish are wintered over in sheltered localities, as a green- 

 house for instance, the spawning season will commence a great deal 

 in advance of that outside. In such a location, spawn may be 

 expected from the middle of February, while that event seldom takes 

 place in the open air earlier than the latter part of April or the begin- 

 ning of May. When the spawning has begun, it is continued until 

 the setting in of frost, with now and then an interval of a week 

 or two. 



In northern climes, where the season is short, it may be length- 

 ened by placing over the spawning bed and nursery frames covered 

 with glass, the principle being the same as that of the gardener's 

 hot-bed. If this is done, it must not be forgotten that in fair weather 

 an abundance of air should be admitted, and also that the bed is to 

 be protected from great and sudden changes of temperature, as 

 either would be fatal ; in fact, the breeder is to exercise his intelli- 

 gence in the matter, for he certainly must know that as he is keeping 

 up a kind of artificial climate, he must not forget to preserve it as 

 evenly as possible, otherwise one cold night would (if the frame had 

 not been replaced after airing the bed) destroy many days of patient 

 toil. 



If, in between spawning periods, the fish should rest longer than 

 is desired by the breeder, the males are to be changed from one bed 

 into the other, and the water in the latter well aerated by letting a 

 stream flow through it for a whole day, when the spawning will soon 

 be in full process again. 



