THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOLDFISH 



with varying success, as the results of a season's labors depend upon many 

 conditions not yet fully understood but which longer experience may rem- 

 edy. Success with directly imported Japanese and Chinese goldfishes is 

 equally uncertain; the mortality before arrival, from diseases, contracted 

 during transit and before acclimatization, being in such proportion as 

 to make this also a precarious business venture. Importations are made 

 during the most favorable season, the late fall, winter and early spring 

 months, but the results are usually such as soon to discourage many enthu- 

 siasts who otherwise would become profitable customers. The survivors 

 in the home aquarium are so very few that American bred fishes of the 

 choice imported breeds are more desirable and command higher prices, as 

 the percentage of fatalities of imported stock is so considerable as to pre- 

 vent a profitable venture. 



The greatest discouragement to the breeder is the failure to raise a 

 large proportion of the fishes hatched. This may be due to easily 

 explained reasons or possibly caused by mistakes made in remote stages 

 of the development of the eggs or of the parent fishes; and when the fry 

 perish in unusual numbers, it is not sufficient to seek the cause in recent 

 occurrences but all the conditions of feeding and care of the parents as well 

 the young should be considered and corrections made in the future. At 

 best, the survivals are usually small in proportion to the number hatched 

 and even the most experienced breeders do not expect a greater survival 

 than 20 to 25 per cent, of the most promising hatches which have arrived at 

 an age of two or three weeks, after which he should separate the finer de- 

 veloped fishes from the less desirable ones, and of these rarely over 5 per- 

 cent, will be fishes which will be considered perfect in conformation and 

 development by the expert fancier. 



The least touch will affect the mucous membrane of the alevin and may 

 lay the foundation for a future fungus development, and the fry from very 

 young fishes or those which have not received a sufficient supply of oxygen 

 by overcrowding, or those of parents which have not had a frequent change 

 of water to act as a stimulant some little time before spawning, are usually 

 weaklings and do not survive. Young fishes should be handled with a 

 spoon and never taken out of the water. 



The constantly growing demand for goldfishes is such that extensive 

 cultivation is certain to be remunerative. In the Eastern States, at some 

 seasons of the year, the supply is often exhausted and dealers complain that 

 fishes are hard or impossible to get; which applies to both the common and 

 the fine breeds and assures a ready market to breeders having the facilities 

 for keeping their stock until times of greatest demand, usually at the Christ- 

 mas season and in the spring when the breeding fishes are sought. 



