Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-23
RARE GOLDFISH AQUARIUM.
Philadelphia Society Shows Many Fine
Varieties.

Goldfish are a familiar spectacle in
every aquarium, no matter if it be a
large exhibit by q municipality or a
tiny glass jar in a cottage window. But
there are goldfish and goldfish, and the
ordinary garden, mill pond Variety of
goldfish would not do for the members
of the aquarium Society of Phladel-
phia. This is an organization of some
go men organized II years ago for the
purpose of wrestling from the japanese
ana the Chinese their secret in the
breeding of fancy fish. singular as it
may seem, these mOnStroSities, for
such they are, the dantieSt and most
beautiful of fish, came from the COM
mon carp.
The common type of goldfish are all
b:noid:; Of tie carp tribe, not the true.
o: colorless. but albinoids. The albinos
of other forms of animal life, whether
human or of the lower forms, all run
to reds in color. when they have any
color at all. The red and gold color
ing mater Of these fish is a mucous
deposit in the scales, and does not
come from it's flesh or blood. The gold
fish is the smallest member of the carp
family. 1t was brought from China to
~
this country early in the nineteenth
century.
It may be said now to be Indigenous
to American waters. Several years ago
cloudburst washed out pond in
Paramount Park that was filled with
them, INTO the Schuylkill river, and as
they are very prolific there are mil
lions of them now in that river. In
-,
river, near Washington, became stock
ed with them.
These fish. however, do not receive
any attention from the Aquarium So
ciety. save as they want to use indi-
vidual specimens to cross with other
breeds. All the fancy breeds original
ed i'll China and Japan. 1t is the theory
of the breeders of these fancy fish that
the Orientals discovered the process Of
originating the different species by
Earring or disturbing the spawn, and in
this manner Matching out monstrosi-
ties. These fish are peculiarly suscep
tibie to hybridzation. and their prog
eny may be continued along the same
lines. if watched carefully.
The patient watching and breeding
given them by the Orientals has Great
ed certain forms that may be regarded
as fixed types that have been classified
and named.
one of the most popular is known as
the comet" Its fins, as in the case of
all the fancy breeds, are abnOrmally
developed. It's tail fin is very long
| and spreading; its back fin long and
| erect; its pectoral. ANIMAL and paired
ventral fins long and dropping. Some
times the caudal fin is as long as the
| fish itself.
The ''nympth' type shows this ex-
| cess Of fins to a much greater extent.
| Here the fish is bred, hunchback, and
as there must be room for its little in
sides. it is provided by a corresponding
curve below. so that it's body is round.
In the nymph the fins are frequently
double the length of the body.
| One of the species known as Hetzell's
| silver dollar, was 50 called because it's
body was the size and shape Of a dol
lar, while its fins We're so long that it
became tangled up in them and could
only roll over and over in the water
until the fins would find their proper
! position.
| The Jap fringe tail is another type
much favored. These strange creatures
have double fins and tails throughout.
YET another popular type it the tele-
scope. 1t is chiefly marked by abnor-
mally large, prodruding eyes. Just
how this effect was originated has'not
yet been discovered by American
breeders. Then there is a type Chinese
have SO developed that dark stripes Of
brown are made to grow in the form