58 THE GOLDFISH AND ITS CULTURE. 
you see by the actions of the fish that you have arrived at the 
limit. 
Fish, in order to be objects of study or enjoyment, should 
above all things feel comfortable and happy; they must feel 
“at home,” and it is much the better plan to keep only a few 
choice specimens of a noble type and good habits, and make 
real pets of these, than to crowd the tank with indifferent 
stock. 
For an aquarium holding from five to twenty gallons of 
water, and kept for ornamental purposes, two handsome speci- 
mens of fringe-tailed goldfish make a striking effect. A simi- 
lar good effect is obtained when such a tank is stocked with 
about five fish of different types or varieties. Tanks of the 
author were seen by millions of people at the various indus- 
trial expositions during the last twenty-five years or more, 
where he had them displayed, and I had good opportunities to 
notice which arrangement was the most admired. Such a tank 
as mentioned above brings the arrangement of the rockery and 
the plants to full notice. The fish appear like so many cattle 
in a pasture with the edge of a piece of forest as a background, 
The whole is a living picture continually changing, but always 
charming. Its perfect silence rests our nerves and imparts a 
peaceful feeling. 
If the aquarium is to be a source of information to children 
or pastime for invalids, a different course is to be taken and 
the collection should comprise various types of fish, in order 
that the different forms, habits and structures may be com- 
pared and studied. 
