THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 13 
caused by its voracious appetite, the goldfish, especially in its 
younger days, falls the victim of innumerable enemies, 
In fact, so easy is it to destroy them, that anything else living in 
its company in the pond and of sufficient strength to master it, may 
be set down as its enemy. 
When arrived at maturity its peculiar mode of reproduction 
renders it a welcome prey to enemies that do not live in water. It 
is likewise subjected to diseases of various kinds, and considering all 
that, it may be said that it is a mere accident when goldfish multiply 
to any considerable extent without the protection of man, or that 
the circumstances under which they increased were exceptionally 
favorable. 
