Evening star., 1933-04-05

It is not too early for those who have
outdoor pools to begin to think Of clean
ing them out for the new season.
Even the largest lily pond is stag
nant bit of water, in comparison with
oceans and lakes, or even with ponds.
An amazing amount of leaves and
other chaff can fall into a pool during
the Winter.
In fact, some authorities advocate
draining in the Autumn. 50 that the
eggs and larvae Of various fish enemies
may be killed by the Winter cold.
This Is dubious remedy. however.
since It brings up the problem Of what
to do with the goldfish, which are, after
all, the real attraction Of the place.
If the pool is cleared out in the Fall,
drained and left dry, it will not only
deprive the fishes Of their natural home,
but also the owner Of the beauty Of
seeing the changes from water to ice
and back again.
These remarks apply, Of course, only
to pools sufficiently deep to permit the
fish to live In them when the water
freezes over.
Unless the "tub gardens" are excep-
sionally deep, 1t Is necessary to bring the
fish In them indoors for the cold sea-
son. This instantly creates the prob
lem Of caring for good-sized fishes IN
doors. Goldfishes, being small carp,
need plenty Of oxygen, which they get
outdoors, even in the smallest pool.
Nature takes care Of that, because 10
gallons Of water, in the open, with q
certain number of square inches OF
water surface, are much easier on the
fishes than an equal number OF gal
Ions indoors, where most often the water
surface will not be found sufncient. IN
the average home aquarium. The
growth Of these bright carplets In the
outdoor pool, even the small ones, Is
amazing; mostly they become too large,
even in q season, to be at home in any
but very large indoor tank.
No one who cleans out his pool at this
time Of year should be surprised to find
several of his fishes ailing.
Spring in its early stages Is q very
dinicult time for fish.
They must make the great change
from the lethargy Of the Winter to the
renewed vitality Of the warmer months.
Mostly fishes in pools eat practically
nothing all Winter long.
Those who sprinkled bit OF food on
the surface Of the water upon such
warmer days as graced the rather severe
winner, IOf CQeSe pdItS, kIlOW t1ldt Ol0i-
narily the goldhshes. and even such OF
the larger minnows as may have been
present, paid little If any attention to 1t.
II pool inmates eat anything at all,
during the cold season. it is mostly GER
tain winter eggs" as they are called,
Of various insects, most OF which are
enemies to the health Of the glistening
swimmers
Perhaps they eat some vegetation, but
In the main they may be said to fast.
Now comes the warmth, and with 1t
the stimulus to take food. But 1t usu-
ally Is found that certain pool tnhab-
itants, despite the fact that they seemed
all right in the Fall, have not come
through the Winter with their accus-
stoned verve.
These are the weakly ones, and Nature
knows no pity. They have failed her,
she seems to think, and so-away with
them!
Man, in the person Of the pool owner,
has a chance to step in here.
Do not wait too long to inspect the
pool, and discover which Of the fishes
are suffering from disease.
Perhaps most of them will be SWIM
ming quickly, inspired by the first real
warmth of the season.
A few may not be moving, but re-
naming sluggishly in one place, or even