THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOLDFISH 



Should the rearing of the fishes be conducted in the open air, on a 

 large scale or in pools or lakes, much that has been stated will apply; as 

 with whatever method adopted the results are always more certain when 

 the hatching is done in dishes or shallow tanks and the fry only transferred 

 to the rearing ponds when sufficiently developed to find their own nourish- 

 ment and too large to readily fall a prey to their numerous enemies. The 

 temperature and condition of the water is thus under control, the spawn 

 and fry better protected, feeding can be regulated, and a closer supervision 

 had of all the details which lead to success. 



Attention should also be given to the selection of such breeding fishes, 

 especially with the common goldfish, which evince rapid growth and soonest 

 develop color, as this may vary considerably, some fishes being very vig- 

 orous, growing to a length of 4 to 6 inches in a few months and assuming 

 the desired colors when quite small, while with others this may have been 

 delayed until the following season ; and as these and other tendencies 

 are likely to be transmitted to the progeny, a study of the parents is necessary 

 to insure satisfactory results. 



In pond or lake culture, where the fishes are turned in and permitted 

 to breed at will, few precautions other than those of water supply, abundant 

 food, protection from freshets and the larger predatory animals are possible; 

 but when the breeding is done in prepared basins or pools, a very consider- 

 able supervision and control of the essential features are possible. A care- 

 ful supervision, even from a business point of view, is advisable, as both the 

 returns and the quality of the fishes are so greatly increased and better as 

 to repay the additional care and labor involved. 



Should the breeding stock have been sheltered indoors during the 

 winter months, which with the facilities should be done, care must be 

 taken not to transfer them to the open air tanks or basins too early in 

 the spring as serious mortality may result. The fishes have lost much of 

 their hardiness, and are liable to congested colds, affecting the gills and 

 circulatory system. Such fishes should be placed in tanks or spawning 

 beds protected by hotbed sash to moderate the temperature during the 

 night and early morning, until they have once more become acclimated to 

 out-of-door conditions. 



Though spawning early in the season has a number of advantages 

 from the commercial standpoint, as the young fishes may mature sooner 

 .and will be ready for sale when they command better prices, their enemies 

 less numerous, as many of them will not yet have appeared, and thereby 

 assure the arrival at maturity of a greater number, very early spawnings 

 are usually not as robust and vigorous as those of later hatching. 



100 



.kMlk 



