266 FISH CULTURE 



of the year sex-distinction is sometimes diffi- 

 cult. As is tlie case with many other species 

 of fish, the favourite hours for spawning are 

 those of darkness, usually those which just pre- 

 cede dawn. With the advancing season, how- 

 ever, daylight spawning becomes more fre- 

 quent. Only a few eggs are deposited at one 

 time, and it sometimes requires several weeks 

 for the female to discharge them all. 



Treatment of Eggs. — Goldfishes' eggs are 

 very small, very light and very adhesive. They 

 are so light that if free in the water, it requires 

 nearly half an hour before they will sink many 

 inches, and they will not hatch if they get very 

 many inches below the surface. With grasses 

 planted thickly in the breeding-tank, however, 

 the eggs cannot fall very far without touching 

 roots, leaves or stems, and the slightest touch 

 is sufficient to fasten them firmly. These eggs 

 are plainly visible, because they are pearly 

 white. 



When spawning begins the fancier should at 

 least once a day remove from the tank all 

 plants that may have eggs attached to them, 

 because if the eggs are allowed to remain the 



