The Washington times., 1904-04-18
GOLD FISH READY
FOR SPRING FROLIC
Soon to Help Beautify Pub
lie Parks.
IN LOTS OF SEVENTI-FlVE
Finry Ones Keep Ponds and FOun-
tains Free From Aquatic
Refuse.
IN LOTS OF SEvENTY-FlvE

over at the Fish Commission build
ingS a big school of gold and silver hsh
Is being gotten into shape preparatory
10 their annual summer outing. In less
than month they will be dumped out
og the huge aquariums. broken up into
lots of about seventy-five. and dis
tIibuted among several OF the public
PSF ks, there 10 frolic in the water and
TO be gazed at until the temperature
becomes TOO chilly for their health ana
comfort.
The annual distribution of the fish is
lirder the charge of George II. Brown,
landscape gardener for the Department
Of Public Buildings and Grounds. The
q stom- has been in existence for many
Years. the original purpose having not
been for the establishment Of the
parks. but as a matter of usefulness 1t
was found that the placing of the fish
in the ponds relieved the Government
OF the necessity of employing men to
Eeep the water clear and free from
acCatic refuse.
Depends on Weather.
Providing the weather man keeps the
temperature at Il normal state from
now on, the brilliantly colored fish now
at the commission buildings win be
placed in the ponds about May Is. The
temperature of the water at that time
o. the year has in the past been found
warm enough 10 transfer the animals
from their winter quarters without
Danger TO themselves and subsequent
loss TO the Government
The FISH will be placed in Franklin
lark. judiciary Park. White House
fountains. Folger Park, the Govern
ment reservation at Thirteenth Street
and Pennsylvania, and Stanton Park.
In each of these parks. ponds or foIin-
tains have been built. and during the
Summer they are used as dwelling
uIaces for the finny ones. These ponds
3,ad fountains have proven such an al .
tractive addition 70 the parks that the
department is trying TO have them
huilI on all the public grounds. To
children. particularly. the highly col
Ored FISH have been matter OF inter-
est
Ordinary Allotment
The ordinary allotment to each park
is about seventy-five FISH, half of the
gold species and half of the silver va
riety. For several weeks these aristo-
Gratis OF fashion have the sole and eX-
elusive use Of basins. free from con-
taco with their less blue-blooded
brethren. But at the end OF lnlS time.
or perhaps sooner. or perhaps Bit
later a change occurs. Through the
pipes that empty fresh water into the
fountains a mongrel eel or bass or some
similar cheap fish is carried some DAY,
and To the great cha grin Of the aqua
rum products. more follow with great
raDidity
In the latter part Of October. when
the fist are returned 10 their winter
quarters, the ponds are found 10 con-
tain a rare collection Of fish from the
Potomac II is also found that the gold
fish have multiplied rapidly, and half
again as many as the number placed
in the pond in May are removed in the
fall The surplus is given 20 the Fish
Commission for exhibition.
Fed Cnce a Week.
supply of food IS thrown in the
ponds once a week. This consists OF
from three TO five handsful of boiled
rice for each park. and is distributed
under direction OF Mr.. Brown. The fish
also sustain themselves on bits Of odds
and ends tossed into the water and or
the green scum that forms around tbs
edge of the pond. Indeed. II was OF
account of this habit that they Were
given home in the public pleasure
grounds for not only do they eat this
weed but, in addition, keep the water
clear and pure.