The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-02

There is q record that about four hun
dred years ago-that Is about the year 1900,
some goldfish were brought from China to
Sakai a town near Osaka. The breed then
brought In is said to be that now known
as the wakin. There must have been sew
eral later importations, and the Japanese
must have improved vastly on the original
forms, as they have done with so many
other things introduced from foreign co,n-
tries
Before instancing any particularly es-
teemed varieties, a word or two about
goldfish In general. characteristic is
that the black pigment with which the body
is uniformly colored when first Matched
from the egg disappears in year or so
and gives place to bright colors. which are
OF various shades between carmine and
vermilon red and which may be spread
over the body or vsriegated with white in
various degrees.
"A fish that is entirely white fetehes no
price in the market, and is mercilessly
eliminated in the first year A fish with a
white body variegated with red around the
lips and all the fins Is considered to have
the best celebration.
II must confess that my favorite variety
is the ryukin. The body is strikingly
shortened-this being one Of the points to
which the variety was bred-and has a
rounded, bulged out abdomen.
The tail and all the fins are long and
flowing, the former being as long as or even
longer than the body. A ryukin, two or
three years old, slowly swimming with it's
long. flowing graceful fins and tail, full OF
quiet dignity. can liken to nothing so
much as TO Japanese court ladies Of olden
times. dressed in long robes and walking
with quiet grace and dignity.
Among the rarer and newer varieties
almost or quite unknown in the United
States, and, indeed. outside of Japan, is
the shukin, recently produced by my friend
Mr. Akiyama, a skiful goldfish breeder
of Toxic 1t is lionheaded; that is has
warts on the head u globular body. and
long, flowing tail.
THE delne-ranchu is not yet naturaii2ed
in Japan having been imported from China
only within the last two or three years.
or all the extraordinary and odd looking
fishes, it certainly is far in the lead in many
respects. and Is interesting as showing
how far man can proceed in modifying
nature.
1T Is telescope fish. with short, globu-
extraordinary position. The ordinary tele-
scope fish is odd enough. with the eyes
protruding but in this variety dislocation
has gone one step further,
'The eyes have not only started out Of
the head, but have turned upward 90 de-
skyward. For this reason ] should be in
cined to call this the astronomical tele
scope fish. As a fish 1t Ia SO monstrous
that 1t gives one almost uncomfortable
aThe goldfish is very common in Japan
and more or less reared in all parts Of the
empire, but the main centers OF cultivation
are Toxic. Osaka and Koriyama, small
town near Nara, where almost every house
hold engages in this business. Each Of
these places has its own peculiarities In the
method OF raising, but the differences are
on the whole. in minor details only. In
Toxic goldfish breeders are all located
in low lying parts of the city. where ponds
a sine qua non Of the business, can be easily
made.
"A great deal OF experience and skill is
needed In making the goldfish change color
from black to red. If a person who is not
an expert tries his hand at raising lot Of
Young goldfish he will find to his sorrow
the fish remain black and do not assume
bright colors. while others which may be |
under the care Of professional breeder,
will don all the beautiful hues.
II am told curious fact that the fish
which change their colors earliest are apt |
to be white, or variegated white and red
while those that change later are apt to be |
uniformly red. am also told that by the |
middle Of August Of the second year all |
the individuals, however obstinate change |
their color.
II have just now no available statistics |
in regard to the output, of goldfish, but |
the number produced yearly in Japan
the power Of children in the nation, for they
& u mar axoellenoa the customera OF theaa