Evening star., 1936-07-13
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Goldfish constitute an innocent recre-
alton, one which has surprising reaches
and depths (no pun intendeO for the
person interested in Nature.
That a great many people have found
this out Is not a secret, but it still may
amaze some to learn that their numbers
include opera singers, successful news
paper women, editors, hard-headed busi-
ness men.
All of these, and many more, find
something restful and interesting in con-
templating the finny fellows in their
small watery world, and in helping them
attain larger life and real piscatorial
happiness.
Freedom, Of course, Is impossible for
them, under the circumstances, but 1t
will ever remain the belief of many that
the goldfish If given their choice, would
choose to remain right where they are,
provided they receive proper care.
We wish to make it plain here that
today we are not speaking of exotic, or
so-called tropical fishes. which in the
past f1ve years have enjoyed remark
able vogue.
Present indications are that this vogue
is waning, and that the humble goldfish
specimens of which we're sold here re-
Gently for cent? is coming into its own
again.
A decade ago Philadelphia was not
only the city of brotherly love, but also
the city Of the fancy goldfish.
With the aid Of officials Of the Bureau
of Fisheries here. goldfish enthusiasts of
the neighbor city managed to breed such
fine specimens as the world had not seen
before.
They were especially adept at handling
the egg-shaped specimens which, because
Of their shape, have cramped internal
organs, thus rendering them very hard
to raise, owing to undue pressure on
stomach, swimming bladder. heart and
other organs and structures.
The World War, and the coming Of the
tropical fishes into prominence in the
affection of fish fanciers the world over,
rendered the goldfish. in its many var
iations back number.
Millions Of them still were sold, but
mostly to children and adults who could
not "see" spending more than few cents
for a fish. To all such persons the idea
of paying several dollars for a small fish
was absurd. AS to what they would
have said concerning such price as $75
for pair of Angel fishes there is no
word. Probably it would have been pre-
posterous."
The goldfish is a good fish because it
is bright, long g-lived, healthy and active.
These last three attributes, unfor-
tunately, depend on two factors. both Of
which may be and quite often are vari-
able.
The first is ancestry, which is beyond
the control of the purchaser, in 999 cases
out Of thousand. (The thousandth we
will speak of later in this article.)
The second is care, wholly dependent
upon the owner.
The purchaser of goldfshes will do
well to take his or her time, and not
permit the girl with the net to hurry the
matter.
A good way Is to spend half an hour
simply looking over the tank, watching
the various inmates and mentally select
ing good specimens.
Then come back later in the day. or
the next day, and do the whole thing
over again, this time with an eye to pur-
chase.
Many healthy fishes are secured by
haphazard purchase, it is true, but if so
the new owner owes a great deal to good
fortune. and not so much to his own
brains.
Do not purchase fish with folded fins.
or with a dorsal fin Che one on top
which is lowered and crumpled up.
These are signs Of fish Ill health.