The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-30
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REARING GOLDFISH.
The Largest Nursery in the world Is
In Indiana.
From the Indianapolis Journal.

rum tiAc lHuldndpoliS
Perhaps the oldest method of making
a living and one least known about by the
average reader is that for the propaga,
ton and coloring of goldfish. Goldfish
are natural products and have been known
for many centuries. but the production Of
oddities and freaks to attract and amuse
is the result of modern art.
The largest farm for the breeding and
growing of goldfish in the world is the
Spring Lake fishery, which is located in
an out-of-the-way part of Liberty town
snip, Shelby county, Indiana, near Shell
byVille. And in SO retired a part of the
country is this farm situated that per-
sons who have lived within four miles Tor
years know nothing of its magnitude or
even existence. There are in reality two
farms under the same management deyOt-
ed TO goldfish culture. The upper farm Is
under the direct management of William
Shoup, the originator of the enterprise
and the senior member of the firm.
Twelve years ago Mr.. Shoup imported
directly from the Royal Aquarlums Of
Japan dozen small goldfish, and from
that small start, together with few COM
mon Chinese fish bought in this country,
he has accumulated thousands of dollars
and built up business which reaches out
into every state and territory in this coun-
try, and some of the choicest specimens
found in the government aquariumS OF
the old world came from this farm. The
entire eight acres are devoted to ponds
are not always golden. There are hve
large breeding ponds in the upper part or
the gulch, protected from the winds by
high walls or entertainments of earth. Be-
low these and connected with them are
a large number of smaller ponds for sort.
ing and some still smaller for FEEDING and
coloring. These latter are not larger than
a small living room. Twice every year
all the ponds are in regular rotation drain
ed, cleaned and the bottoms allowed to
The Ash are sorted at regular seasons
the larger and more perfect being saved
for breeding the others are divided into
classes, those ready for selling and those
which have not yet attained the color to
be salable. The reader must understand
that the goldfish are not always the color
when first Matched he is silver color, and
If caught in a stream would be easily mis-
taken for a common sinner or bass WIN
now Indeed some of the gold fish, for
some unknown reason, never reach any
other color. The writer was shown one
pond in which were several hundred fish
more than four years old, and they were
these fish there is, of course, no market,
unless they are desired to show variety OF
coiors. Usually, however, the hsh are
ready for market the next spring after
Matching, being first white or silver color
ed changing to a dark shade, sometimes
entirely black, afterwards assuming the
golden or red color, and the odd varieties
of gold fish exhibited are usually the re-
suit of this changing of color. Some of
the prettiest Of fish are of more than one
color When perfectly white they are
called pearl fish, and when looked at
when the sun Is shining on the water they
present all the colors Of the most beauti-
full mother pearl. These are rare and
consequently valuable. Some are a clear
red. others spotted, white ana red, or
black and red.
through the clear body the entire skeleton
and observe the working of the brain and
the blood vessels. One fish kept, by Mr..
Shoup for exhibition has a black stripe
running down its back and belly, while
the head is a deep blood red; the body is
a rich yellow above and lighter below; on
each side of the body just back of the
like extra eyes. They are sometimes or
ange in color, and a few specimens have
been raised which were s, purple: There Is
ing Is due to the different kinds of food
which are fed, but that is a mistake, for
they all receive the same food exactly,
and yet there Is a vast difference in color
or shade between two fish treated exactly
alike. The different coiors are said to be
due to the action of the sun. In winter
all the fish In ponds become much darker
in shade, while In summer they become
brighter and change color rapidly.
1t looks an easy matter to plant few
to watch them grow into money. But Il
takes constant care and a knowledge OF
their habits to breed and bring them into
marketable shape. At this upper farm Mr..
shoup estimates there are In all 10000
fish, with about 5000 ready for the holiday
trade. 1t has taken four years 70 produce
what Is here, and no one can estimate the
hard days and nights of work he has spent
In securing and guarding his treasures:
Enemies innumerable have 10 pc guarded
against, for while the fish itself Is hardy
and can stand great exposure, they are
one Of the easiest prey 70 wild and domes-
tic animals OF any fish known. The ponds
must, necessarily, be shallow and kept
clean Of all trash wherein other fish could
hide when pursued. II Is these enemies
which prevent a gold fish producer from
becoming independently rich In few
years. Snakes destroy large number
each year, while cats. coons and all MEM
hers Of the feline Tibe are ravenously
fond or gold FISH and must be guarded
against Crawhsh lad frogs sometimes
get into the ponds and eat up enormous
numbers before discovered The craw-
FISH Will, with MS Claws, pick 70 pieces
hundred In a week, and a small frog Will
devour a fsh three inches long. AT GER
tain seasons Of ne year i y necessary %
keep a man and boy conHthntly employed
hunting and Destroying these marauders