42 JUDGING GOLDFISH COMPETITIONS 



when it became a conspicuous fact that nearly all winners of compe- 

 titions were of the broad-tail type. Those not possessing- stock of this 

 style became dissatisfied, and in order to appease them, a class of the 

 old-style fish was established. While the Veiltail is the more difficult 

 to handle and to breed, it is accepted as the standard to be striven for. 

 The word "veiltail" was adapted by the author from the German 

 Schleierschwanz, and is more truly descriptive than "fringetail," a 

 word more apt to describe the split and ragged ends of the fins of a 

 fish out of condition. 



In competitions goldfish are divided into the scaled and "scale- 

 less" classes, the latter lieing transparently scaled. The scaled fishes 

 are colored gold (metallic red), silver (metallic drab or smoke), pearl 

 (metallic white), and moors (blacks). The first should be of a deep 

 shade of red. The second is a transitory color and varies but little. 

 y\s a color value it ranks low. The pearl is a grade higher, but light 

 colors in general are not favored. Moors should be of a deep blue- 

 black, free froni the appearance of a white scum. These blacks are 

 never comiiletely black under the belly. It is at this point that they 

 usually liegin to turn red, which is liable to happen to a Moor at any 

 age. 



"Scaleless" fishes are divided into red, white, mottled and calico. 

 The preferred shade of red is of the deep oxblood color. White ranks 

 lowest. Mottled is a combination of red and white, while the highest 

 prized is the calico, a coml>ination of all the colors in finely divided 

 spots. In this class the all-important color is. blue or lavender, the 

 deeper the better, and also the more the better. The ideal Calico has 

 a l)ody background of blue, red and white, over which is a sprinkling 

 of fine black dots. The black dots and some red ones are also freely 

 distributed over all the fins, which are otherwise white in these and all 

 "scaleless" fishes. The highest development of this color seldom 

 occurs under the age of from two to three years. 



There are special competitions for fishes under one year old. A 

 recent ruling in this connection is that a fish to be judged must have 

 a body as large as a half dollar. Also that the body of an adult must 

 be as large as a dollar. This is because many "runt" fishes, if judged 

 strictly on points, would carry ofl: the awards, their development hav- 

 ing gone all to fins. 



In the opinion of the writer, societies should avoid too frequent 

 competitive exhibitions. They promote discord and tend to develop 

 professionalism. Those truly interested in the development of the 

 fancy will be willing to bring out their fish without thought of reward 

 other than giving pleasure to their friends and the public. 



