THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOLDFISH 



As it is the purpose of this volume to treat the subject not from the 

 business point of view only but to interest the amateur and professional 

 breeder alike, it is desirable to describe the breeding methods separately 

 beginning with the simplest. The suggestions given should be modified 

 to suit the conditions. 



Aquarium and Tank Culture. This method is usually employed 

 by amateurs and fanciers with limited facilities, and undertaken as a 

 pleasant diversion. The requirements are an open space, good light, one 

 or more tanks, sawed-off barrels or similar clean and seasoned vessels of 

 varying depth of water, which have been thoroughly scalded, scoured, 

 frequently watered, filled and left standing for one or more months, and 

 on which a growth of algae has formed, success always being surer the longer 

 they have been in use for this purpose. They should be placed in a bright 

 and sunny location, accessible to water; clean potted plants placed therein 

 and permitted to stand to accumulate oxygen and the minute animal life 

 which is not only beneficial in removing the refuse, decayed particles of 

 plants and excrement, but also serves as food; care being necessary in the 

 establishment, seasoning and maintenance of the spawning and rearing 

 tanks, which often require more than one season's use to be in perfect 

 condition. When let into the ground they maintain a more equitable tem- 

 perature, but set above the ground are not so accessible to some of the 

 enemies, frogs and cats among the number. It is advisable to cover the 

 tanks with wire screens as a protection from the larger enemies. ■ 



As elsewhere stated, either the parent fishes may be placed into the 

 tanks to spawn and then removed, or the plants to which the spawn ad- 

 heres placed therein and permitted to hatch, the former being the better 

 method as then none of the eggs will be lost. 



Basin and Pool Culture. Basins and pools may be built of bricks laid 

 in cement or mortar and lined with cement, of cement concrete, or on a 

 good clay bottom with the sides of boards backed by well puddled clay. 

 Their proportions should be such that a careful observation of the entire 

 contents is possible and when based on a factor of 4 or 5 feet many advan- 

 tages will be manifest; that is, a breadth of 4 feet and a length of 4, 8 and 

 12 feet; or a breadth of 5 feet and length of 5, 10 and 15 feet, so that 

 glass sashes, wire covering, etc., are interchangeable, the capacity and the 

 number of fishes for each size easily kept in mind, and the available space 

 well occupied by this systematic arrangement. 



An easily constructed basin is one of circular form with sloping sides, 

 as the earth may be evenly excavated, the bottom leveled off, and brick or 

 concrete sides built directly against and upon them. The action of frost 



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