AQUARIUM SOCIETIES 



Four or more periodicals are published under the auspices ot 

 these Societies, a weekly, two fortnightly and a monthly; devoted to pop- 

 ular zoological, ichthyological and botanical study and the elucidation of 

 subjects of interest to their members, ' 



A Society of this kind has been established in Philadelphia since 

 1898, and has accomplished much to popularize the aquarium, its inhab- 

 itants and its maintenance. To encourage this both interesting study and 

 beautifier of the home, some descriptions of this Society and its proceed- 

 ings will be of interest. 



The Aquarium Society of Philadelphia, on January i, 1908, had 128 

 active members, a number of which reside in neighboring cities. Its 

 purpose is more particularly the propagation of the finer breeds of the 

 goldfish and the keeping of freshwater aquaria. The sessions occur 

 monthly, except June, July and August. Set topics of interest are dis- 

 cussed, exhibitions take place, prizes are awarded and inquiries from any 

 source are invited and answered. 



Points for the Judgment of Goldfishes. Authorities differ some- 

 what in the standards for judging goldfishes in prize competitions and as 

 as to their respective merits as fine specimens. Dr. E. Bade, one of the 

 best-known German ichthyologists, advocates the following scales in awards: 



Japanese Fringetail 

 Goldfish 



A long body would, for instance, take from the merit of the fish as 

 many as 30 points and would in no case permit of over 70 points in its 

 favor, or should the anal fin be single, its merit would not be over 95 points. 

 If the body is not sufficiently rotund, but short and otherwise acceptable, 

 then its merit as to body would be expressed by not over 20 to 25 

 points, and so with the other details of the fish. 



For the Chinese Telescope goldfish he advocates the standard of: 



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