CAEE OF GOLDFISH 263 



and one or two small vessels as for example, 

 a small wash-tub. 



Spawning Habits. — Goldfish, begin spawning 

 ■usually early in the spring. If there be main- 

 tained from the beginniag of cold weather a 

 water-temperature of 70 or 75 degrees, gold- 

 fish will begin to spawn early in February and 

 sometimes the latter part of January. If the 

 water-temperature be held at 60 degrees or 

 thereabouts, throughout the winter, no eggs 

 will be deposited before April or May, or, until 

 a suitable warmth is imparted to the water. 

 Where an aquarium is not exposed to the sun- 

 light for several hours every day, I have known 

 goldfish to go throughout the season without 

 spawning. Peculiarities in the fish themselves 

 also cause great variations in the time, espe- 

 cially when there is a considerable number of 

 fish. In such cases some females will begin to 

 spawn in February or before, while others will 

 be far later, even on into August. Early 

 spawning is greatly to be desired for several 

 reasons. The early hatch will all develop their 

 colour by early summer ; the stock by autumn 

 will grow almost if not quite equal in size to 



