76 



Aquatic filtt 



when about an inch long. Inability to 

 infuse new blood undoubtedly has been 

 the main factor in this decline. 



For breeding purposes a large tank 

 should be used. The vegetation should 

 be arranged in one dense group at one 

 side or in a corner, as this affords protec- 

 tion for the spawn, and gives ample 

 swimming space for the fish; moreover 

 it facilitates locating and removing the 

 eggs, which can be accomplished with 

 a glass dip-tube or a rubber hose. In 

 our tanks the species has never spawned 

 more than three or four times during a 

 summer. The operation takes place while 

 the fish force their way through the 

 densely planted section of the aquarium. 



After incubation, which requires from 

 two to five days, the fry can be seen sus- 

 pended from the plants, stones or sides 

 of the aquarium. They will cling to the 

 same spot for hours, only changing their 

 positions when disturbed. This inactiv- 

 ity, broken only by an occasional effort to 

 swim, continues from one to two days, 

 the yolk-sac supplying nutrition during 

 this time. When able to swim about, and 

 supplied with an abundance of infusoria, 

 and later daphne, small mosquito larvae, 

 etc., their growth is remarkable, individ- 

 uals attaining a length of three-fourths 

 to one inch in less than four weeks. This 

 seems to be the most critical period. The 

 majority, if an apparently healthy lot of 

 fry, will m a few days' time be trans- 

 formed into a sickly lot, with arched 

 backs, shrunken abdomens and con- 

 tracted fins. This has frequently hap- 

 pened in tanks that were painstakingly 

 maintained in the best of condition, and 

 so far we have been unable to determine 

 the cause. 



Our experiences lead us to conclude 

 that in order to raise this species in large 

 numbers, an exceedingly large tank, or, 

 better still a pond or basin in a conserva- 

 tory, must be employed, with artificial 

 aeration if available. 



Mr. W. H. Cassell, of The Aquatic 

 Association of Maryland, is very much 

 exercised over the following note, which 

 appeared in the Baltimore Sun. W. H. 

 C. is anxious to know if fishes hatched 

 by this method develop feathers or fins. 

 Seems to us that the problem should be 

 solved in Baltimore. The clipping spe- 

 cifically states that hens' eggs were used, 

 so the question is referred to the treas- 

 urer of the Aquatic Association, Mr. 

 Louis Hens. The clipping : 



"The Chinese have a novel way of 

 propagating fish. The spawn is carefully 

 collected from the surface of the water, 

 and when a sufficient quantity has been 

 obtained they take a number of hens' 

 eggs, the contents of which have been 

 carefully emptied through a small aper- 

 ture, and refill the shells with spawn. 

 The holes are sealed up and the eggs 

 put under broody hens. The hens are 

 allowed to incubate the eggs for a certain 

 number of days, when the eggs are again 

 broken and their contents put into water 

 that has been previously warmed by the 

 sun. In a very short time the spawn 

 hatches, and the young fry are then kept 

 in pure, fresh water until a sufficient size 

 to be put into the ponds. At one time a 

 considerable business was done in this 

 style of spawn hatching." 



The West Philadelphia Goldfish Fan- 

 ciers' Association met on Thursday even- 

 ing, January 2d, in their new quarters, 

 Hamilton Hall, 5236 Market street. The 

 competition was for blue ribbon winners. 

 Awards were made as follows : 



Scalelcss Telescopes — Silver cup to 

 Michael Moylan ; blue and yellow rib- 

 bons, Howard E. Demuth ; red ribbon, 

 E. Weinreich. Scaled Telescope — Blue 

 ribbon, E. Weinreich. Lionhead — Blue 

 to Michael Moylan. Scaled Jap — Blue to 

 Frank Merges. — Earle W. Roak, Sec- 

 retary. 



