AUTHOR'S PREFACE 



There is perhaps no other means of bringing so complete a bit of 

 Nature into our very homes as that afforded by the aquarium. Here 

 we have opportunity for the student, the artist, the scientist, the 

 photographer and for those who simply love pets. Modern research, 

 by the discovery of a few simple principles, has enabled us to reproduce 

 the conditions of aquatic Nature, so that now we may have, at first 

 hand, an intimate knowledge of much of that mysterious life of the 

 water-world. Through the glass of the aquarium we have a window 

 where that which we see is only limited by our own capacity for 

 observation. 



Although interest in aquaria has undergone a great awakening in 

 the past few years, the public in general is still ignorant of the correct 

 principles of aquarium management, and of the wonderful accomplish- 

 ments of the breeders of fancy lishes. In addition to the extraordinary 

 goldfish forms there are now available for our purposes over three hun- 

 dred kinds of aquarium fishes. These, with other aquatic animals and 

 a wdde range of plants, give us a great wealth of material from which 

 to choose. 



It is the aim of the author and the publishers to present in simple 

 yet comprehensive form a practical digest of all available information 

 on the aquarium and allied subjects. This, it is hoped, will be of real 

 value to the intelligent aquarist and at the same time give the general 

 public a clearer idea of possibilities under proper management, so that 

 an aquarium will no longer be merely a container which must be 

 perpetually re-stocked with fishes, but an endless source of pleasant 

 and profitable observation. 



The illustrations used are, in nearly all cases, either drawn or 

 photographed from life, thus establishing records which should be of 

 value for present or future reference. 



Tn the preparation of this volume the author has received valued 

 assistance from leading specialists, breeders and general experts, 

 including the distinguished head of the United States Bureau of 

 Fisheries, Dr. Hugh M. Smith. Special acknowledgment for gener- 

 ous co-operation is tendered Dr. E. Bade, Mr. Franklin Barrett, 

 Dr. David Starr Jordan, Mr. Wm. H. De Nyse, Mr. Richard Dorn, 

 Mr. Henry W. Fowder, Mr. Frank J. Myers, Mr. AVm. L. Paullin, 

 Mr. W. A. Poyser and Dr. C. H. Townsend. 



