A Few Questions from Customers and Our Answers 
Concerning the care of Fish, Plants and Scavengers and the growing of Goldfish in Pools 
1. —Q Is there a limit to the number of fish to be in a pool? 
A. Most certainly there is. The average outdoor pool of 3 5 to 200 
square feet of water surface will support from 2 to 5 Goldfish, sue two to 
six inches long, per square foot of surface. The larger the average size of 
fish, the fewer will live comfortably in a given size of pool. 
2. —Q. Regarding Silver Fish (Uncolored Goldfish) (Bait), how long are 
they useful, how large might they grow, and what kind of fish do they 
turn out to be? 
A. “Silver Fish” are uncolored Goldfish. All Goldfish, except the 
scaleless white albinos are the dark metallic “Silver" color of the common 
minnow when very small. As they approach an inch in size they begin to 
acquire the various “Gold” colors of the Goldfish. This “coloring” goes on 
during the summer months principally, but no matter how good the bre:d- 
ing stock is, how favorable the growing pond is, or how well the small fish 
are taken care of, some of them will not turn “gold,” for they are a throw' 
back to former generations of uncolored parents. Some of the Silver Fish 
(single tail uncolored goldfish) we sell, may turn gold the first year in your 
pool. Some will never turn gold and may grow to be 8 or 10 or even 12 
inches long and still be a silver fish which is close kin to the common Carp. 
(Goldfish were developed from a species of Carp). 
3. —Q. I know that success in any venture requires some experience, but 
as for growing baby Goldfish in a pool, what are the essential requirements, 
and what sort of care should the little fish have? 
A. The first essential in Goldfish propagation is to provide suitable 
spawning plants. This requirement is fully met with about 6 to 12 Water 
Hyacinths to float in the pool. After fish place spawn on them the plants 
should be kept in a part of the pool screened by a Winch mesh wire to 
prevent the larger fish getting at them, as they will eat their spawn if hungry 
and growing Goldfish will eat the newly hatched fish. We do not advise 
pool owners to go to the trouble of removing the spawn and hatching it in 
tubs or small pools away from parent fish, but this method may be used if 
the owner wishes to take the trouble which it requires. (Described in “Gold' 
fish and Their Care” by O. C. Beldt—15c; and “The Modern Aquarium” 
by Wm. T. Innes—$1.00. These books listed on page 21. By keeping 
plenty of plants in the pool and also by providing shallow places among 
rocks and a wire screen, the young fish will learn where they can live safely 
and will grow rapidly. A good food for baby Goldfish is our Tropical Fish 
Food which is very finely ground so they can eat it. 
4. —Q. Do Salamanders, Frogs, Snails and Turtles stay in the pool? Are 
any of them injurious to children? 
A. Water snails will remain in your pool. The other animals men' 
tioned may wander away to seek a larger body of water or creek if there is 
any nearby. They like to crawl or sit on a rock or leaf and must be able to 
get out of the water when they want to, or they will drown from exhaus' 
tion. None of them are in any way injurious to children, and will make 
interesting pets, but can be killed by too much childish petting, etc. When 
kept inside, snails only should be in the same aquarium with fish. The oth- 
ers may be kept together where there are no fish, but when turtles and 
salamanders are with fish in close quarters, they bite at their tails. 
5. —Q. Are Clams prolific and how long would it be before six would 
reproduce more than my pool would support? 
A. Yes, clams are prolific in their natural habitat. However, they 
will not become too numerous in a pool and if this should rarely occur, 
they can be removed. 
6. —Q. Are Snails prolific and can there be too many in a pool? 
A. With the exception of Red Ramshorn, the varieties of snails we list 
are very prolific; however, the balance of natural forces ever working where 
life goes on in your pool will see to it that they do not become too numer¬ 
ous. Remember, the eternal struggle for existence among all creatures, and 
the survival of the fittest, are Nature’s stern laws, from which there is no 
exception. In this case it is interesting to note that fish eat newly hatched 
snails, and certain insects eat grown snails. 
7. —Q. I do not understand the method of planting the Floating Water 
Hyacinth. Please describe in detail. 
A. Space does not permit us to describe in detail on page 17 where 
we list Water Hyacinths, or here; however, we furnish complete planting 
instructions with every lot of Water Hyacinths we ship. Essential require¬ 
ments are: shallow water (6 to 8 inches deep), part time or full sunlight, 
a layer of soil 2 inches or more in a flat box or any other container sub¬ 
merged about 6 to 8 inches below water. Allow Water Hyacinths to float 
over this submerged soil area, confine them there with a crude wire fence or 
projecting stones, etc., until the roots enter the soil, then no further atten¬ 
tion is needed except to thin out if they grow too fast. Water Hyacinths are 
annuals up North and difficult to keep over the winter except in green¬ 
houses. Fortunately they are quite cheap and can be replaced each spring. 
8. —Q. How much soil and sand is needed for the bottom of pools to 
plant Oxygenating Plants? 
A. Oxygenating Plants are among the least exacting of all Aquatics. 
Once started they will grow almost too profusely. But to get them started 
use separate flat boxes with about 2 inches of soil and one-half inch of sand 
on top. We do not advise planting them in the Lily boxes, because they take 
too much nourishment away from the Lilies. Place the boxes in water 
about 12 to 15 inches deep until plants are well started, then lower a few 
inches more as the plants grow larger, and drop the boxes to the bottom of 
the pool before winter comes. Fish may loosen the plants during the first 
two weeks after planting; however, as soon as the roots take hold they will 
take care of themselves. (Goldfish eat underwater vegetation at times). 
9. —Q. What is the least number of Oxygenating Plants to use in a pool 
with no running water? 
A. No amount of Oxygenating Plants can make up for the discomfort 
of fish caused by water over 80 degrees in July and August; hence, protec¬ 
tion from hot afternoon sun is desirable for the fish. During spring and fall 
a few oxygen producing plants are desirable. During the winter they are 
most valuable, as all other plant life is dead. This is largely a matter of 
choice and experience. 
10. —Q. Are Oxygenating, Floating, Shallow Water and Bog Plants 
Perennials? 
A. Nearly all varieties of these groups except the Floating Plants will 
reproduce themselves in northern pools without any attention except to 
keep the roots in deep water during the winter to prevent them from freez¬ 
ing. These not hardy are so marked where listed. The floating plants should 
be replaced yearly, and fortunately they are all very inexpensive. 
11. —Q. Can I paint the lily boxes or wooden pails with ordinary house 
paint without harm to fish or flowers? 
A. We do not advise painting wooden boxes when used under water. 
Our cypress lily boxes, listed on page 26, will last many years under 
water. Light wooden pails or boxes may last only one or two seasons, but 
would not be more satisfactory when painted. Green algae appears^ on 
natural wood after it is under water for a time, and snails feed on it. When 
the plants grow nicely the lily boxes are completely hidden so that painting 
for under water use is not an advantage except on metal containers which 
are not as satisfactory as cypress lily boxes. If regular outside paint is 
used for anything in your pool, let it dry thoroughly in the air before sub¬ 
merging it. Our Sky Blue Pool Paint is recommended for any underwater 
painting because it is made entirely different from ordinary paint and does 
not contain harmful chemicals which can be absorbed by the water and 
sicken your fish. 
Is It Very Difficult 
For answer to this question we thought you would like to see what a twelve- 
year-old, and mighty intelligent, American Boy was able to do by himself. We 
know that many young boys are very interested in fish, and aquatic life, but 
this young man’s work will amaze garden lovers. Billy’s Pool is the Informal 
Type. We describe the method of building this type of pool on page 6. In 
his second letter he says, “The Pool helped me in my Boy Scout work. For 
making the pool, a concrete garden bench, and a concrete flower jar, I earned 
a Merit Badge.” We say you surely earned it, Billy, and we extend our con¬ 
gratulations and thanks for sending us this fine picture and your very interesting 
letter which we print herewith. 
Lakeview Ponds , 
Mt. Airy, Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Attention Mr. R. C. Dolle: Oregon City, Ore. 
Dear Sir: Noveber 10, 1934. 
Three years ago, when I was twelve, I made a lily pool alone. I 
have two Lilies, Water Hyacinths, and Umbrella Palm, Giant Arrowhead, 
Floating Heart, and various other aquatics. I have raised Goldfish two 
years and I am getting quite a bunch. I am considering getting a blue 
Tropical Lily this summer. 
The wonderful bargains offered in your spring catalog amazed me. 
/ have had it for over two weeks and I am still looking at it every time 
I have a chance. I was looking at some of the photographs sent in by your 
customers and I thought maybe I could take some pictures of my pool 
which would be as good; then / saw your offer of a three-dollar credit slip 
for every picture you accepted for use in your advertisements. You see 
the result in the two pictures enclosed in this letter. 
Please let me knoiv as soon as possible if my pictures are accepted. 
Also send me your latest catalog. 1 am trying to get a start in raising 
Tropical Fish and I have a pair of Guppies and five-iveek-old babies. I 
have a one and one-half gallon aquarium and two small bowls. I soon hope 
to get a ten-gallon or larger aquarium and a heater. 
The Lily in one of the pictures is a Chromatella, and the other 
picture shows my Arrowhead and Umbrella Palm and my other Lily, which 
is a Rose Arey. It was too late to get a picture of its blossom. 
Yours truly. 
to Build a Pool? 
These photographs show BILLY ROAKE 
of Oregon City, Oregon, and the beautiful 
Goldfish and Lily Pool he made when only 
twelve years old. A mighty fine job, Billy, 
and we are very glad to show your work 
to our garden friends. We hope this story 
will induce other boys to try their hands 
at a pool for Mother and Dad. 
BILLY ROAKE. 
