The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-04-17
GOLDFISH IN THE OHIO.
The Unique Industry OF Cincinnati
Naturalist.

'1Do you happen to know that the
flood has resulted in stocking the Ohio
river with goldfishp''
o9 s.No." 4s
..Well, it has. to limited extent.
The backwater from Mill Creek flooded
Hugo Mulertt's goldfish nursery out
back Of Spring Grove and carried
away some thousands of young fish of
all kinds-Japanese fringe-tails, hog
noses. telescopes, tumblers, piebalds,
double-tails, mottled beauties and a
hundred other rare kinds that you and
have never heard of. The same thing
happened last year. and. if 1t is kept
up, in the course of time the people
along the lower line of the river will
have Q chance to taste finer fish than
the channel cat
"But goldfish are only fit for orna-
mental purposes. They were never
meant for the frying-pan.
"That Is where you are mistaken.
One variety that was washed away in
large numbers-known as the gold orfe
is as fine o food or game fish as any
man need want. and, at the same time,
is bright vermillion from the tip OF
hts nose to the end Of his tail. He is
as big as full-grown trout and as
knowing Is fox. But don't take my
word for il, Go and see Mr.. Mulertt
about il He Is the only fish-farmer in
this neigh borhood, I think, and can
tell you more interesting. facts about
goldfish in an hour than you can print
In . week"
"Yes, sir; I am . tish-farmer, If you
Like to give me that name, although
the usual designation for man in my
business is q pisciculturist F" said
MIR. Mulertt. ''See here" He dipped
long-handled net into the clear water
of pond before him, and after few
quick motions. landed high and drip
ping on the grass, plump, two-pound
fish. Its color was very dark gray
almost black-and the black scales,
fringed with white, which covered it,
were as large as ones thumb-nail.
'.That fish Is the German mirror
carp. 1t Is q fine food fish-hardy and
very rapid grower. The government
wants to give every man in this coun-
try as many of those fish as he will
care fog, and 1t has always been sur
prise to me that there are comparative
ly 80 few applicants for them. There is
fully one pound of meat on that fish
before us, and can truthfully say that
he has not cost me one cent for food
since he was given to me. Unlike other
animals. fish in confinement will for
age for himself all the year round, il
his pond is properly built and contains
q few aquatic plants.
'sThis is a fish" said the exhibitor,
(which is but little inferior to the
trout In gameness as we'll as on the
table; and then notice his brilliant
colors. He Is called the gold orfe, and
is pre-eminentiy the aristocratic game
fish of the world. He is to be found in
the pond of every German nobleman.
and, / must say, Is worthy of every
honor. These fish swim in schools
near the top of the water, and in con-
sequence. are partially fitted for foun-
tsins and ponds. They are perfectly
hardy, may be left in the ponds all
winter. and In couple of years, will
sometimes reach the length Of three
feet.n o.
What are they"
''Hist! Keep perfectly still for one
minute. Don't move, please and be.
fore the writer knew what was the
matter, Mr. Mulertt had slipped up the
hill to his house, and was returning
with twenty-five caliber Flobert rifle,
charged and cooked He pointed the
muzElo at the root of tall clump oil
pampa grass on the edge of one of the
ponds. there came the sharp crack
from the exploding cartridge, and then
q small brown water-snake threw him.
self out OF the hole in which he had
been hiding. and writhed on the grass
m full view a
''Snakes are among our worst ene-
miles," said the shooter, ejecting the
shell from his rife and coolly replacing
il with fresh cartridge. There is
rarely day passes that do not shoot
one or more of them. Turtles and
muskrats are also great pests. With
shis rife, shot no less than fifty blue
herons on the pond last year. some OF
them standing four and five feet high;
and as for cranes, king-fshers, frogs.
crawtish and nevis. they make my life
q burden. The snake is In the habit
of lying hidden from view, with only
his head exposed, and playing his
tongue into the water. The young fish
imagine the tongue to be o worm OF
something suitable for dinner; but
they no sooner approach it, than the
snake seizes them, and instead of eat
ing they are eaten.-Ctncinnati En-
| Qutrer.