TROPICAL AQUARIUM FISHES 43 
descriptive than “fringetail,’” a word more apt to describe the split and 
ragged ends of the fins of a fish out of condition. 
In competitions goldfish are divided into the scaled and ‘‘scaleless” 
classes, the latter being transparently scaled. The ‘scaled fishes are colored 
gold (metallic red) silver (metallic drab or smoke) pearl (metallic white) 
and moors (blacks). The first should be of a deep shade of red. The 
second is a transitory color and varies but little. As a color value it ranks 
low. The pearl is a grade higher, but light colors in general are not 
favored. Moors should be a deep, purple-black, free from the appearance 
of a-white scum. These blacks are never completely black under the 
belly. It is at this point that they usually begin to turn red, which is 
liable to happen to a moor at any age. 
“Scaleless” fishes are divided into red, white, mottled and calico. 
The preferred shade of red is of the deep, oxblood color. White ranks 
lowest. Mottled is a combination of red and white, while the highest 
prized is the calico, a combination of all the colors in finely divided spots. 
In this class the all-important color is blue or lavender, the deeper the 
better, and also the more the better. The ideal calico has a body back- 
ground of blue, red and white, over which is a sprinkling of fine black 
‘ dots. The black dots and some red ones are also freely distributed over 
all the fins, which are otherwise white in these and all “scaleless” fishes. 
The highest development of this color seldom occurs under the age of 
from two to three years. 
In the opinion of the writer, societies should avoid too frequent 
competitive exhibitions. They promote discord and tend to develop pro- 
fessionalism. Those truly interested in the development of the fancy 
will be willing to bring out their fish without thought of reward other 
than giving pleasure to their friends and the public. 
OFFICIAL CHARTS 
Showing Ideal Figures of the Principal Goldfish Varieties, 
Together with Valuation Points 
Copyrighted by Franklin Barrett 
COLOR - 18 
Style - 5 
COLOR-18 
STYLE: § 
Fic. 26. SwaALLow TAIL CoMET Fic. 27. VEILTAIL COMET 
