Cuapter I. 
“Every man is a valuable member of society, 
who, by his observations, researches, and 
experiments, procures knowledge for men”’ 
SMITHSON, 
THE HISTORY OF THE GOLDFISH. 
Long before the principles upon which the success of an aqua- 
rium are based were understood, goldfish were kept and tenderly 
cared for, merely because they are beautiful, and besides being in a 
sense pets, upon which to lavish much solicitude and attention, 
served the purpose of an animated ornament, than which it is diffi- 
cult to find a more beautiful and desirable substitute. The very fact 
of their being denizens of a different element than that in which 
the most familiar domestic animals and pets live, served to surround 
them with a halo of fascination that prompted their admirers to 
expend upon them any amount of time and pains to keep them in a 
flourishing condition, and ever ready to be displayed before the 
chosen guest in the household. 
Their wonderful tenacity of life, the gorgeous colors in which 
they are clothed, both contributed to make them adapted to life in 
the aquarium and grace the elaborate structures that were framed 
for the express purpose of displaying them to the best advantage. 
The goldfish, we are told, like many other things, originated in 
China, though, so far as this is concerned, its history is involved in 
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