THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOLDFISH 



successful season, should produce many thousands of goldfishes of both 

 the common and the highly prized Oriental breeds, for which there would 

 always be a constant and remunerative demand. The Paradise Fish, Ide 

 and Tench could also be cultivated. 



Pond Aquaria. Vol. VII of the Bulletins of the U. S. Fish Com- 

 mission, 1887, gives two excellent suggestions for pond aquaria which are 

 here reproduced and no better explanation can be given than to quote the 

 accompanying article by Mr. Wm. P- Seal: — 



"With this idea in view I offer the following suggestion for the consideration of those in- 

 terested in the establishment of large aquaria, hoping for further development through interchange 

 of ideas. 



The plan or principle herein suggested might be termed not inaptly Pond-Aquaria, it being 

 essentially a combination of the pond and the aquarium; the aquaria being constructed on the 

 margin of the pond or reservoir used, as shown in the accompanying illustration. Fig. 61; the 



Pond Aquaria. 

 FIG. 61 Pond Aquarium. 



idea being to have a water-pen or pond-garden (A) extending back from each aquarium front, 

 and to be surrounded by a wire or other fence or partition (B) of sufficiently small mesh to pre- 

 vent the escape of the occupants, but large enough to allow the smaller fry, which would furnish 

 them with food, to pass through freely. (C) represents the glass fronts. (D) the upper or 

 perforated aquarium bottom, which allows the escape to a lower funnel-shaped bottom (E) of 

 all sedimentary deposits. (F) represents rocky eminences containing pockets, in which could be 

 planted aquatic vegetation at depths adapted to their needs. The whole creating a close ap- 

 proximation of natural conditions. An arrangement of wire gates would keep fishes in close 

 confinement for short periods for observation, or would keep some, while others were allowed 

 to roam at will in their domain. 



Fig. 61 A represents a cross-section of the same, showing building over the aquaria, and 

 greenhouse roof to pond-gardens. 



The advantages of some such plan will, I think, be apparent to all whohave experience 

 on the subject at least. It is simply imitating nature more closely and getting rid of attificialities. 



The conditions would afford natural vegetation, sunlight, mud, sand, and rocks, with 

 abundance of room in which to move about freely and seek for natural food. 



By such a plan also the necessity for circulatory apparatus is dispensed with, the circula- 

 tion caused by the movements of the fishes, changes of temperature and evaporation, together with 

 the aeration or oxygenation affected by the plant life being ample, as in the pond. 



109 



