Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-17
INDlANA'S GOLDFISH FARM
Ooloring of the Fish Regulated by Expos
ure to the Sun.
Some of the Greatest Difficulties With
Which the Goldfish Raiser Has
to Contend.
From the Chicago Times Herald.

In Shelby county, Indiana, about thirty
miles from Indianapolis, is the largest
goldfish farm in the world. Here the
original goldfish men Of the country have
their propagating plant. and here are pro-
duced some of the finest specimens in the
world. The pets require careful and sys-
tematic raising that Is seldom considered
by those who desire to purchase them at
small price. The farm" is known as
Spring Lake Fishery. and consists of in
Vulnerable small ponds, all connected by
narrow channels or sideways in which the
flow Of water is controlled by water gates.
These ponds are constructed with careful
regard for depth. size. height Of embank-
ment and amount and kind of Shrubbery on
the banks. The most careful consideration
is given to these details. for it has been
demonstrated that they all. each and col
leCtiveiy influence the health and develop
ment of the fish and the perfecting of the
color, without which goldfish is valueless.
Immediately after it is Matched the gold
fish is very E1uch like any common every
day minnow, and there Is nothing in its
appearance to indicate the glorious hues
it will afterward assume. For more than
a year it has dull. whitish slvery color.
which gradually gives place to the standings
and blotches of color so well known by
fancierS. '-t
Spring Lake Fishery. Is owned by l..
Shoup, who has spent his life in studying
the habits of goldfish and how nature may
be assisted in her work of cOloring the lit
tie beauties. He has found that the is
the artist who makes the delicate tints on
the film of the fishes sensitive scales. But
the sun Is variable artist, and no two of
the fishes he paints are exactly alike. If
fish is kept in the shade from infancy it
will always retain it's youthful Silvery col
and will be very ordinary and, in fact.
worthless fish, but il it is allowed to bask
in sunny shadows and to lie with it's sides
exposed on pebbly ripples its scales will alb
sorb the rainbow tints of the sunlight re-
fracted through wayelets of crystal water.
1t is not within the power of man to de-
fine regulate the ccoloring of the fish.
but by careful attention to the exposure to
the suns rays he can make the shades
sober hued or brilliant Generally there is
the greatest demand for bright colors, and
those fishes are produced in greatest num-
bers whose markings are pronounced
There are but few exceptions to prove the
rule that the is the only agency that
paints the fish, but occasionally one is
found that grows to maturity and to the
last retans its dull, silvery color. These
are the albinoS. and cannot be accounted
for. They simply exist, and that is all
that is known about them. The food a fish
eats has nothing to do with developing it's
color. ALI the fish in Spring Lake Fishery
are fed exactly the same food and 1t Is un-
deviating in quantity and quality. Toasted
bread and nothing else is given them two.
or three times a week, and they thrive
upon it better than anything else 1t is
we'll adapted to their delicate organism,
and with the natural food. such flies
and worms, they can. capture Is recon-
mended for use in private aquariums.
The greatest difficlty with which the gold
fish raiser has to contend Is the night
prowling animals, such cats, cOonS and
opoSsums. These animals are very adept
at catching fish and experience little diff
Guilty in securing all they want of the do
mesticated goldfish. which take alarm but
slowly. Snakes and crayfish are also de-
stroyers of the goldfish, and the most con-
slant vigilance is maintained to see that
none of those animals gain access to the
pond. The goldfish Is insectivorous, and
his appetite often leads to his death. The
sting of some insects is fatal, and for
common snake feeder to deposit an egg
upon one of the little vertebrates means
it's sure death.
The freaks and unusual developments in
the fish are the varieties which always
bring the highest prices in the market
Odd and rare colors and spots and blotches
are the kind of markings most preferred
by fanciers Unusual shapes in the fish
are also very much sought after and in
variably bring high figures In physical de-
velopment the tail is the great favorite of
nature. for 1t is that appendage that re-
ceives the most attention Fish with two,
three four and even five tails are not I'M
common. and a few specimens with six
tails have been known but they rare
These abnormal developments are always
accompanied by the most brilliant hues.
and have been known to bring almost fab
ulous prices.
More than 100000 fish are in the Spring
Lake Fishery, and specimens are sent ev-
cry year INTO every state and territory.
The aquariums of nearly every country on
earth have drawn upon it for perfect speci-
mems and for information concerning the
production and care of the fish. Many of
the royal aquariums in Europe are kept re-
plenished from this fishery.
Goldfish In private aquariums should be
regularly fed but never overfed; the water
should be kept fresh and at an even tenn
perature, and thei aquarium placed in the
dark at night liz