On the Inbreeding of Fishes 



JOHN LEE BENNINGTON 



Blue Calico Telescope Goldfish. 



Everywhere in nature are evidences 

 of a pronounced antipathy to self-fertili- 

 zation and inbreeding. While it is true 

 that desirable characteristics can be de- 

 veloped and perpetuated by inbreeding, 

 it is always at the expense of vigor, and 

 degeneration, and even sterility may re- 

 sult. Cross-breeding within the species, 

 in contrast, with the resulting infusion 

 of new blood into any strain, be it fish, 

 bird or beast, means the preservation of 

 strength, vigor, fertility and rate of 

 growth. The mere intercrossing of dif- 

 ferent lines of species (unrelated indi- 

 viduals), without considering other in- 

 volved points, will not necessarily work 

 good. The desired result will be depend- 

 ent upon the selection of individuals em- 

 bodying the desired characteristics and 



Owned by A. A. Phillips, Jr 



stamina. 



The plants have developed various 

 means to insure cross fertilization. 

 Many species bear the male and female 

 flowers on separate individuals, or, when 

 a species produces flowers of both sexes 

 on the same plant, or bears hermaphro- 

 dite (combination) flowers, the male 

 and female elements do not mature sim- 

 ultaneously ; thus fertilization by another 

 plant of the species is necessary. The 

 pollen (male element), is carried from 

 flower to flower by the wind or by in- 

 sects. 



Animals in nature, having the power 

 of locomotion, and free to move about 

 from place to place, mingling with their 

 kind, have not been provided with means 

 to prevent inbreeding. Movement, re- 



