Evening star., 1936-03-30
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRAcEWELL.

Dear Sir: In the hope of inducing you
to write Of fish oftener, I am writing to
tell you how very much enjoy your
piscatorial columns. I have received
many worthwhile suggestions and new
inspirations from them.
"A little over a year ago relative
brought me about 10 common goldfish
from hatchery in Maryland. I bought
a little globe and proceeded in the ordi-
nary, barbaric fashion to slowly kin them.
I thought they were amusing themselves
when they came to the surface and
clucked, and I was only vaguely annoyed
when the water became SO cloudy as to
be opaque.
Before all the fish were quite dead q
friend brought me one of Mr.. Innes'
books. I read it with mounting interest
and from that time on my fish began
to have happier life. They were not
the only ones to benefit, for I have &C
quired a hobby which has brought me
innumerable hours of enjoyment. I
have obtained few more fish and much
more tank space as time has gone on.
I now have three 5-gallon tanks and one
10-gallon one, all of which are. think,
run in the most approved fashion.
~ y
Recently I have been thinking myself
a complete boor among amateur fish fans
for devoting my attention to goldfish.
I have studied about the tropicals, and
attended exhibits, and while they are
very beautiful, I do not think there Is
single variety which is more beautiful
or graceful than a calico veiltail.
GGVntlr column nf UpStPrHaV has UiVpn
me the courage to do what I have had
a sneaking desire to do all along-keep
my goldfish.
I cannot think that those who speak
their unbelievable adaptability to selec-
tive breeding.
Il should like to read a column of
yours sometime or. aquatic plants. I've
had nearly as much enjoyment with my
various plants as with the fish. I am
sure you must know many interesting
things about the aquarium plants that
cannot be found in the ordinary books
on fish. For instance, l read in the
American Mercury last year an article
on Anacharis and how it got its name
of 'Babbingtons Curse 1t was an ex-
citing tale, and one which know every
one who has had to be continually cut
ting back that demon grower would be
interested in.
II am moving most of my fish out
doors this Spring. From book by Miss
Ida Mellen I got the idea Of getting an
old bathtub to be sunk in our minute
backyard. I think it is very good sug-
gestion and worth passing along to those
with little outdoor space.
Il have a snailery in my old fish globe
red ramShorns, and the tiny black
snailS found on the plants one buys. l
am experimenting now with pieces of
plaster of paris in the water to see if
I can bring up some transforms with no
mottlings of their shells.
Please write of fish oftener, not only
for the enjoyment of your readers, but
because you are in a position to inspire
people to take better care of these pets
so many thousands of which have died
painfully and needlessly.
Very sincerely yours, J. r. N"
~
Every hobby has its snobbery, and
that of the tropical fancy, as the keep
ing of small exotic specimens of fishes
is known, was simply that the goldfish
is scarce fit for consideration.
Dyed in -the-wool fanciers too often
accepted this attitude without thinking
about it, with the result that for the
past five years the goldfish has been
unhonored among them.
All the time, however, the plain people
of the land have gone right ahead buying
goldfishes by the millions every year.
Hundreds of thousands of these were
doomed to an early death. mostly be-