The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-12
a GOLDFISH FARM N INDIANA.
Effect of the Sun In COIorIng the
Fish.
From The Chicago Tlmes-Herald.

FROM the Chicago Times-H Herald.
In Shelby county, Indiana, about thirty
miles from indianapolis, is the Target gold
fish farm in the world. Here the original
goldfish men of the country have their
propagatng plant and here are produced
some of the finest Specimens in the world
The pets require a careful and systematic
raising that is seldom considered by those
who desire to purchase them at a small
price. The farm is known as Spring Lake
Fishery, and consists OF innumeraole
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, hight of embankment aud
amount and kind of shrubbery on the
banks. The most careful consideration Is
given to these details, for il has been dem
onstrated that they ali. each and coliec-
lively, influence the health and develop
ment of the fish and the perfectng of the
color without which goldfish is valueiess.
Immediately after it is Matched the gold
fish is very much like any common every
day minnow, and there is nothing in It's
appearance to indicate the glorious hues II
will afterward assume. For more IMAM
year it has dull, whitsh silvery color
which gradually gives place to The shad-
ings and blotches of color so well known 10
fanciers.
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 iit-
tie beauties. He has found that the sun
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 viii always retain its youthful, slvery
coior and viii be a very ordinary bask in
sunny shadows and to lie with its sides eX-
posed on pebbly ripples its scales viii alb
serb the rainbow tints of the sunlight re-
fracted through wavelets of crystal water.
1t is not within the power of man to de-
fine or regulate the COlOrlng of the fsh,
but by careful attention TO the exposure TO
the suns rays he can make the shades So
ber-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 sun is the only agency that
paints the fish, but occasionally retains its
dull, silVery color. These are the albiuos,
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 its cO.or. All the
Il
II, Tho san1a foo1 ana n l. nndaviatino in
quantity ana o1alItv Tnasted broad and
,lothi1e, aiso 10 e1,Iay TIN, two IN. thrae
times a week, and they thrive upon 1t bet
70 their deiicata organism ana win he
natural FOOD such as flies and worms thew
can cantura IL recommended for use in
private aquariums.
,The greatest dffhcultv with which the
goldfish raiser has 10 contend is The night
provljng animals such as cats coons and
| onnoss1Irns These animals are very adept
at catching FISH ana experience llttIe diff
| dc,ilv IN seeming ali they want OF the
| domesticated goldfish. which take alarm
bur slowly. Snakes ana cray4fsh are also
destrovers of the goldfish. and the most
| constant vigilance is maintained to see III /
| none Of tbose ANIMALS gain access 10 the
nond. The. goldfish is ipsactivorous, and
| his aobotiie often leads 10 his death. The
! sting Of some insects is fatal and for a
| common snake feeder TO deposit an egg
! -, ~ of ,ho 1,t,r, ,,ertabratas means