Ep 4 DIVISION oF FISHES
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ray hs : Sain aearer A, ESP Crea ee ga
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OCTOBER, 1893.

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Ii No. 29.

DENOMINATIVE CHARACTERIS-
TICS OF FRESH WATER
FISHES.

TET:
THE CARP-LIKE FISHES.
(Cyprinidae. )

This family of fishes is distributed
pretty much all over the globe and com-
prises some very choice and valuable
species, that are highly prized for the
purposes of the table.

The family is characterized by the
naked head, the body being covered
with scales, the toothless mouth and
well developed lips, the dorsal fin soft,
and the air bladder large and divided,
something like an hour-glass. Some
species are supplied with barbles,
though their existence is not a domi-
nant feature of the family. The cypri-
nidae unlike the salmonidae, possess
no adipose fin. The spawning season
occurs during the spring and summer
months, just as the circumstances of the
locality may be, and they belong there-
fore to the great division of summer
spawners. The eggs are deposited
against aquatic plants or other material

in the water; they are adhesive and
stick to the object until hatched, which
requires from three to twelve days, ac-
cording to temperature and difference
of species.

The leading species are as follows :

THE SCALE OR NOBLE CARP.
(Cyprinus carpio.)
Der Edelkarpfen.

The body of this fish is stout and
elongated, the sides being compressed.
The head is small and supplied with
well developed lps, the upper of which
carries two pairs of barbles, the one near
the corners of the mouth being much
larger than the other. As stated above
in the general remarks, the mouth is
toothless, though the fish is provided
with masticating organs. ‘These or-
gans are situated far back in the phar-
ynx or throat and consist of pharyn-
geal bones armed with teeth. These
bones are operated by appropriate mus-
cles which give to them a motion like
that of the jaws opening and closing
during the act of chewing. The action
may be illustrated by spreading the
fingers of the two hands and moving

Le Carpe.

66 THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893.

the hands to and from each other, allow-
ing the fingers of one hand to pass into
the spaces between those of the other.
The teeth upon these bones are shed
every spring, their places being sup-
plied with new ones. ‘The color of the
body of the fish is generally of a dark
olive brown on the back and sides,
though it will vary according to cir-
cumstances; the abdomen may be
either yellowish white or orange tinted.
The entire body is covered with scales
of a uniform size, of course propor-
tioned to the size of the individual.
The dorsal fin is situated on the mid-
dle of the back, extending nearly to the
tail and consists of three spines, the
third one of which is serrated, and has
from fifteen to eighteen soft rays.

The carp attains a length of from
three to four feet and weighs then be-
tween thirty and forty pounds. There
are individual cases on record in which
the weight has reached nearly one hun-
dred pounds, but this is the exception.
The carp has become a very important
fish, because of its habits readily adapt-
ing it to pond culture.

The common carp was known to the
ancients, as both Aristotle and Pliny
have noticed them, though it appears
the ancients did not value the fish near
as much as do the people in modern
times.

In central Europe, where it is difficult
to obtain sea-fish, those coming from
fresh water are, of necessity, greatly in
demand and are prized accordingly.
In view of this, carp culture has be-
come an interest of national import-
ance, especially so in Germany and
Austria. The growth of the fish, its
habits, etc., together with various
methods of fattening it, have been
closely and practically studied, with
the most gratifying success in the coun-

tries just mentioned. Asis well known
the fish declines in size, when removed
from the warmer regions of the tem-
perate zones, yet notwithstanding this
fact, the Germans and Austrians have
cultivated it with the most marked
success.

Nearly every farmer has his carp-pond
and devotes as much attention to the
breeding and raising of the carp as is
usually done with cattle, sheep, etc.,
the world over. So profitable is it,
that an acre of water will yield as high
arent as anacre of the richest soil.
The cultivation of the carp in Europe
has grown to immense proportions, in
evidence of which a few of the larger
establishments may be mentioned.
The carp-ponds belonging to the manor
of Wittengau, in Bohemia, of which
the Princess of Schwarzenberg is the
proprietress, number two handred and
fifty (250), and cover an area of 22,000
acres. ‘The annual yield of fish is one-
half million of pounds. ‘These ponds
are known to be the largest on the
globe, and the cultivation of the carp
in them has been carried on for many
centuries. Similar establishments are
found on the manor Konigswartha, in
Upper Lusatia, with 205 ponds, extend-
ing over an area of 9,000 acres; the
manor Peitz-Cottbus (Brandenburgh),
with 72 ponds, covering 5,600 acres ;
the celebrated ponds of manor Trachen-
berg (Silesia), which are the third
largest in Germany. ‘To these must
be added thousands of ponds, scattered
all over the country, before an ade-
quate idea can be had of the extent
to which the industry is prosecuted.
The custom of keeping the fish in arti-
ficial ponds has furnished opportunities
for close observation, notably so in re-
spect to age. It is not at all unusual
for specimens to live to ‘‘a good old

THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893. 67

age,” in the full acceptation of the
term, and instances have been recorded
where the age was a full century,
though this has been eclipsed by the
fish having been known to live to the
ripe age of one hundred and fifty years.
This would seem incredible were the
fact not well authenticated. Tradition,
as 1s always the case, tends to magnify
any natural phenomena that may
either be wonderful or astonishing, and
has gathered about the carp a halo of
romance. It is said, though the story
cannot be vouched for, that the tame
carp in the ponds of Fontainebleau

At the pond of Schloss-Charlotten-
burg, near Berlin, some very large and
old carp are exhibited to visitors. When
the bell is rung, it being the signal for
their feeding time, the surface of the
pond near the bridge from which they
are fed is lashed into a foam by the
large number of carp, in their endeavors
to get a share of the black rye bread
with which they are fed.

This fish, when purely bred and
raised upon a systematic diet, is con-
sidered in Germany as a delicacy of the
first rank. Should an esteemed visitor
abide at the house of a German host, a

- Mule rtt. Del.

were placed there during the reign of
Francis I.; this of course would give
them an age of more than three and a
half centuries, a thing very difficult of
belief when unaccompanied with con-
vincing evidence. However, all this may
be, it is not uninteresting to know.

At an advanced age the carp loses
the golden hue of its scales, assuming a
dull ashy color, while at the same time
moss is found to grow upon the head
and back.

By long care and training the carp,
like many other fish, seem to recognize
certain sounds, as for instance, when
they are called to be fed.

rich and delicious carp is served up
with all the honors of the household.
Indeed, with the Germans, the carp
is the beau ideal of a Christmas dish,
just as with us is the turkey. Great
carp festivals (Karpfen Schmauss) are
celebrated in the fall of each year, to
which many people from a distance
repair to regale themselves upon the
fish they love somuch. On these oc-
casions all the resources of the culinary
art are drawn upon to prepare the carp
in the most appetizing and enticing
forms, no trouble being thought too
great to make the feast thoroughly en-
joyable and a gastronomic success. The

68 THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893.

fish selected are those that weigh about
three or four pounds, as at that period of
their growth they exhibit the most del-
icate and delicious flavor. To preserve
this in the cooking, the coat of scales
is not removed and besides, when so
prepared, the shape is not altered much,
thus making a much more presentable
appearance when served upon the table.

A remarkable peculiarity of the carp
is that it will live for a great length of
time out of water, if kept moist with
damp grass or moss.

It is said that the dairymen in Hol-
land take advantage of this fact and
suspend the fish in their dairies to
fatten them. The food given them is
bread soaked in milk, and under this
treatment they are said to fatten
quickly, while at the same time the
flesh acquires a most delicious flavor.

The history of the carp is somewhat
obscure, and though, as already stated,
it was known to the ancients, no men-
tion is made of its nativity. It appears,
however, that the fish either originated
in the Danube, or was introduced from
Persia into Europe, and gradually be-
eame distributed and acclimated all
over that continent.

From Germany the carp was brought
to the United States for the first time
in 1872, by the late Mr. J. A. Poppe,
a native of Germany, but at that time
residing on his farm in Sonoma, Cal.
The specimens he left Europe with
were of various sizes and age, to the
number of 83. They were bred near

teinfeld (Holstein). Upon arriving at
New York there remained alive but 8
out of the whole lot. On the way to
San Francisco they remained alive, but
after reaching there two more suc-
cumbed, and still another on the jour-
ney to the farm, There remained then
to Mr. Poppe, with which to stock his

pond, but five three-inch carp. From
this small beginning all the others
sprang, and were the only carp in this
country until 1876, when Spencer F.
Baird, Esq., the United States Fish
Commissioner, perceiving the value of
the fish to the farmers of the country,
imported several other varieties, ‘These
varieties were still further supplemented
by the importation of others by the
author.

Carp are now bred in the so-called
National Carp-ponds at Washington,
D. C., and distributed free of charge to
anyone making application for some.
Several State Fish Commissions have
also engaged in this laudable enterprise
and furnish the people of their several
states with stock to breed from, also
free of charge.

The carp is easily raised in this
country, for our climate is varied and
offers every opportunity for the culture.
The habits, too, of the fish are such
that it readily adapts itself to new local-
ities. It prefers sluggish water, ina
warm location, and thrives upon in-
sects, crustacea and vegetable matter.
If kept in ponds, its omnivorous ap-
petite will be satisfied with anything
that a hog would eat. However, it is
not to be presumed that such a pro-
miscuous bill of fare would be condu-
cive to the production of a delicately
flavored fish, for dieting is a most im-
portant essential element in bringing
about a successful result.

At the third year, the carp arrives
at maturity and begins to spawn in the
summer of that year, when the tem-
perature of the water rises to about 70°
F. At this time they become lively
and vivacious, losing all timidity and
precaution, so that they easily fall a
prey to numerous enemies. ‘Two, three
or more male fish follow a female,

THE AQUARIUM,

OCTOBER, 1893. 69

chasing her to some shallow place where
there is an abundance of water plants.
They lash the water in a lively way,
twisting the posterior portion of the
body energetically and shooting through
the water near its surface, with short,
tremulous movements of the fins. At
places they gather together in a compavt
mass, one tumbling over another ; this
is the moment when the female drops
her eggs, which are immediately im-
pregnated by the male.

As this process is repeated several
times, the female probably drops but a
few hundred eggs at a time and she

examination, be found covered very pro-
fusely with little yellowish eggs about
the size of a pinhead. These hatch
variously in from six to fifteen days, just
as the circumstances of the locality and
the temperature of the water is favor-
able. As is the case with many other
kinds of fish, it is only during the
spawning season that the sexes may be
distinguished with certainty.

The skin upon the forehead and parts
of the back of the male become cov-
ered with tubercles, which again disap-
pear when the spawning time is over.
About three days after hatching, the

~HMulertt. Del. —

may, therefore, consume days or weeks
even in depositing her full quota of
spawn.

A female weighing from 4 to 5
pounds, contains on an average be-
tween 400,000 and 500,000 eggs ; it is
on account of this enormous fecundity
that the fish has received the name of
‘‘carp,” which means productive.

The eggs are covered with some ad-
hesive substance, mucous probably, and
adhere to anything they may happen
to touch. The water-plants in the im-
mediate vicinity of the place where the
fish had been rolling about will, upon

young have absorbed the yolk-bag, and
begin moving about in search of some-
thing to eat. By the following No-
vember, if the circumstances have been
very favorable, the young can have at-
tained a length of ten inches ; this is
unusual, the rule being a length of from
four to six inches. ‘They are then of a
brilliant silvery color, the fins present
ing beautiful tints of bright vermilion.

During .the winter, in cold climes,
carp do not increase in weight, doing
well if they hold their own. They pass
that season in atorpid state, buried in
the mud ; forty or fifty group together

70 THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893.

for the purpose and burrow or dig a
hole in the bottom of the pond in some
suitable place. This hole is known as
a ‘‘kettle,” in which the fish remain
head downward and closely packed
against each other, until the pleasant
weather of the spring again revives
them.

In the succeeding fall, at an age of
16 months, a carp under ordinary cir-
cumstances will weigh from one and
one quarter to two pounds, and may,
if everything has been propitious,
donble that weight. Some maintain
that the carp at an age of 16 or 18
months will weigh eight or nine pounds,
but this is extremely doubtful, even
should the fish have been bred in the
richest pond in America.

Carp mix very readily with other fish
of their kind, especially with our com-
mon goldfish (Carrasius auratus). This
may cause great trouble to those not
well posted, for the young and uncol-
ored goldfish very closely resemble
young scale-carp: it is easy to separate
them, if one but remembers that the
carp carries upon the upper lip two
pairs of barbles, which feature is lack-
ing in the goldfish. It is necessary to
mention this distinction in order to
guard against the worthless hybrids
that already exist in this country.

We now proceed to describe the ac-
knowledged best varieties of carp, all of
which, the ‘‘ golden carp” excepted,
are now cultivated in the United States.

Each variety of carp has some pecu-
harity or other of its own, and it is the
proper development of these that makes
the successful culturist, when he studies
the circumstances that produce the best
results.

A certain variety of apple or potato
is most successfully cultivated in one
locality when intelligently handled,

while in another place, and ignorantly
treated, it is an ignominious failure.
Why should the same not apply to the
carp? The phrase ‘the right fish for
the right water” explains the idea in
terse and forcible language.

THE MIRKOR OR KING CARP.
(C. rex cyprinorum. )
Der Spiegel Karpfen. Carp a cuir.

This variety has a higher body than
that of the preceding and is but partly
covered with scales. The latter are of
different sizes and shapes, some of them
three or four times the size of those of
the scale carp. ‘This variation has
given rise to the false impression that
carp shed their scales, the fact appar-
ently seeming to prove the idea.

The color of the scales is deep black
in the centre and edged around with
silvery white, giving each scale the ap-
pearance of a miniature mirror; hence
the name. ;

The skin, where it is not protected
with scales, is of a rich creamy yellow
on the back, inclining to olive brown.

In some localities this fish is prized
above all other varieties of the family.
This is not so much a matter of taste
as many would suppose, but depends
upon the success with which the fish is
cultivated in places that suit it best.

THE NAKED OR LEATHER-
CARP.

(C. nudus.)
Der Leder Karpfen.

As the name indicates, this variety is
very nearly or entirely naked, its skin
as soft as that of the catfish. Its shape
is the same as that of the mirror-carp,
differing only in color; the back and
sides are of a brownish gray and the
belly white.

THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893. 71

THE GOLDEN-CARP.
(C. aureus. )
Der Gold Karpfen.

This variety is very popular in France
and is cultivated to a considerable ex-
tent. It must not be confounded with
our common goldfish, as itis in no wise
identical. The flesh is salmon-colored
and of an exceedingly fine flavor, which,
together with the rich golden color of
the scales, are due to the circumstances
of locality and the quality of food upon
which it subsists.

With the exception of the color of
flesh and scales, it otherwise resembles
the noble carp

Carp Wor.

The large pond situated in the city
park of Leipsic, in the rear of the
Opera House, and known as the ‘‘Swan-
pond *’ (Schwanen-Teich), is stocked
exclusively with blue carp.

THE TENCH.
(Tinca vulgaris. )

Die Teich Schlethe. Le tanche.

This species, although very closely
allied to the carp proper, differs some-
what from it in the shape of the body
(which in young specimens is cylindri- ,
cal,) and to some extent in habits. It has
but one pair of barbles, one situated at
each corner of the mouth.

The color

THE TENCH.

THE BLUE-CARP.
(CL nobilis.)
Der Blaue Karpfen. Carpe-bleu.
This variety, like the one above, also
greatly resembles the noble carp. It is
highly esteemed, especially so in and
around the city of Leipsic, Saxony.
When cooked, it still retains the blue
color of its scales, though this is in-
geniously imitated by placing some
other variety in vinegar for awhile, the
scales thus turning blue. In such cases
the fish is known as ‘‘ Karpfen dla,”
instead of ‘‘ Blawer Karpfen,” the
name of the genuine fish.

of the body is a beautiful golden-green,
darker on the back and shading off to
a golden-yellow on the abdomen. It is
protected with a coat of innumerable
small scales (some 30,000 or more),
this in turn, covered with a thick
coating or skin of slimy mucous, mak-
ing the fish ‘‘as slippery as an eel.”

The head is small, the eyes com-
paratively so, but of a rich blood-red.
The dorsal fin is small, consisting of
but one spine and eight rays. Itisa
beautiful fish, and one very tenacious
of life, thus rendering it easily cared
for and a desirable addition to the
aquarium.

-~
Co

THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893.

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It thrives best in ponds, the bottom
of which is muddy, and feeds upon
such food as may be given the carp. It
is cultivated together with the latter,
but is of much slower growth, rarely
exceeding eight pounds in weight. It
has many admirers as an article of diet
and isa profitable, good selling fish.

At the age of three years it com-
mences to spawn, at the same season
and after the same manner as the carp.
The eggs are less adhesive than those
of that fish, and when extruded, drop
to the bottom among the water piants,
remaining till hatched. The tench is
also very productive, as much so as the
carp; and is found pretty much all over
Germany, in fact being native there.

THE GOLDEN-TENCH.
(Tinca aureus.)

Die Goldschlethe. Le tanche dor.

The ground color of this variety,
which is also a native of Germany,
is chrome-yellow, speckled here and
there with intensely black spots ; each
scale is ornamented with a dot of
reddish-gold, giving the fish a beauti-
ful appearance and making it very de-
sirable as an inmate of the aquarium,
in which it does remarkably well, be-
coming very tame.

(To Be Continued.)

ErrataA—On page 51, third line from below, read
40°F, instead of 10°F.

DESIGN FOR AN AQUARIUM ORNAMENT.

The part of the rockwork for below the surface of
the water is Tuffstone, the miniature castle and bridge
are fired clay.

SS ee a

VALLISNERIA FOR THE
WINTER.

Vallisneria spiralis that is to be used
in the laboratory during the winter and
in early spring, should now be collected
and planted in a pot, using ordinary
gravel, as found in the creeks, for soil.
The pot is set in a tub of pure water of
sufficient depth to cover the Vallis-
neria about three inches. ‘The tub is
placed in the open air, in the garden,
or on some roof where the sun will
strike it, and left there until ice, to
the thickness of about half an inch, has
formed on the water. This ice is
broken, and the pot containing the
root or sets of the Vallisneria removed
to an aquarium tank or similar vessel
holding water, and kept in a cool place
in the house.

About Christmas this vessel is moved
into a warmer room and placed where
it will get a strong light—sunlight, if
possible. Here the sets will start al-
most at once. If wanted sooner, some
sets may be started earlier, but they
should have had frost, and a little rest
after that.

THE AQUARIUM,

CARNIVOROUS PLANTS.
(Continued from last number.)

Still more wonderful were the commu-
nications made to the Paris Academy,
in the beginning of 1872, by the botanist
Ziegler. He claimed that all dead albu-
men only then caused the leaves to be
irritated, after holding it between the
fingers for a short time, but if he would
place it on the leaves by means of for-
ceps, he claimed it produced no motion
inthe leaf. He claimed still further that
by fastening, at a small distance from
the leaf, a bit of albumen obtained from
blood and held in the hand for half an
hour, the leaf lost all irritability for the
albumen in twenty-four hours. Con-
trary to this the leaves were now sus
ceptible to Quinia wrapped in tissue
paper. May this be as it will, one can-
not think of any other explanation than
that of nerve irritability, which is
transmitted and calls the muscular ap-
paratus into activity. Darwin destroy-
ed the activity of these leaves by means
of pricking them with needles, and
Heckel, of Montpellier, like other
botanists before him, has shown that
the vapors of ether and chloroform
obtunded the sensibility of these plants
in the same manner as in the smaller
and larger animals. Naturally we can-
~ not claim anervous centre like in higher
animals, but must be content by at-

tributing the actions to reflex nervous:

actions, like that of a beheaded frog,
who will withdraw his leg on being
irritated. The botanist, Nuttall,
noticed the same motions in newly
plucked leaves, the same as in those
remaining on the plant, but to a less
degree, and the excitability soon subsid-
ing. Bennett states as a settled fact
that the exudation isaugmented as soon
as an insect is caught, similar to the

OCTOBER, 1893. 73

gastric secretion in the stomachs of
animals as soon as food is introduced.
Meat is altered in appearance in ashort
time by this fluid. The fluid of the
Drosera was known in olden times, and
to the bruised plant, mixed with salt,
were attributed the properties of draw-
ing blisters. The leaves were always
likened to the stomach of an animal on
account of the power of digestion, but
it was not thought that they were
possessed of glands of digestion and
absorbents to take up the digested
material like the stomachs of animals.

Attention was now drawn toa species
of plants, the leaves of which always
contained a fluid in their hollow interior,
the so-called Pitcher plants. To these
wonderful swamp plants, belonging to
the species Nepenthes, Sarracenia and
Dariingtonia (see illustration in last
number), many poetical allusions were
made, in that they preserved to the
wanderer through the swamps a fresh
and invigorating drink, and Darwin
noted that the fluid of the Sarracenia
refreshed thirsty birds. One truly
finds that the fluid in the artistically
formed pitcher (the contents of which
are protected from evaporation and
rain by a lid) is full of dead insects,
which may be an inducement for insect
eating birds to avail themselves of these
opportunities. The brilliant colors and
the honey-like exudation at the entrance
of these pitchers (those of the California
species resembling an open reptile’s
mouth) coax the insects to enter, where
they drown in large numbers. Wm.
Batram, in 1791, assumed that the
fluid contained in the pitcher-shaped
leaves of one (North American ladies’
saddle flower) to possess properties of
digestion, and in 1829 Bennett confirmed
these assumptions, while Dr. Mellichamp,
of Senth Carolina, proved it to be so

74 THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893.

without doubt. He describes this fluid
as having a styptic taste, being poison-
ous, or at least having a narcotic influ-
ence on insects. Insects that have fall.
en into this fluid lose the power of
motion in half a minute, but will re-
cover if soon removed from its influence.
The process of digestion, he claims, is
nothing more than a form of decom-
position. The juices of the many
varieties of pitcher plants found in
greenhouses have been examined by Dr.
Ifooker, and he found that their prop-
erties of digesting boiled albumen,
raw meat, cartilage, etc., was really
wonderful. ‘The pieces were fully dis-
solved in from two to three days and
that more readily in the pitcher shaped
leaf, than when the fluid was put in a
glass vessel. Dr. Hooker, therefore,
comes to the conclusion that the glands
on the interior of the leaf secretes a
fluid containing a substance similar to
pepsin of the animal stomach. This
characteristic trait of preying, seems to
be hmited to the small family of sun-
dew plants, to which class Venus’ fly-
trap belongs.

The head gardener, B. Stein, of Ber-
lin, noticed a plant in the South of Eu-
rope with the same characteristics. This
plant was introduced from India about
the same time asthe Drosera. The name
it received is Aldrovanda vesiculosa.
(See illustration in last number.) He
found this plant growing in ditches in
great masses, not far distant from Ry-
brink, and convinced himself that every
closed leaf contained an insect. This
plant showed that in water of a tempera-
ture of (30° C.) 86° Fahrenheit, to be the
most sensitive of the whole family, be-
cause he only had to touch the leaf with
a wire to make it close itself along the
central rib most energetically. A pin
thrown on the surface of the leaf was

caught and held from 18 to 20 hours
before it was again let fall. This high
degree of sensibility was only noticed in
a very warm atmosphere. At a low
temperature several of the leaves re-
mained closed, and this also occurred
when the plant was removed from the
water. Since this Prof. Cohn, of Bres-
lau, has discovered in a plant found in
the ditches of meadows in Germany sim-
ilar phenomena. This plant, the Helm
or Bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris),
(which, by the way, is very abundant
in several species in many parts of the
United States), possessed small bladders
or dilatations on the thread-like leaves
under the water. The bladders have
valve-like openings, which can only be
opened from the outside, giving easy en-
trance to small animals, but prevent-
ing all escape. These bladders, when
opened, are filled with the skeletons of
water fleas, worms, smallest vf crabs and
waterbugs, the softer parts of which hay-
ing been absorbed by the plant. We can
obtain a very excellent description of
these plants of prey ina book, from the
masterly pen of Emil Schmidt. In
conclusion, we would draw the atten-
tion of the readers to the pleasure that
can be derived from the observation of
the chase and waylaying of these plants.
They may be found in swamps in any
warm climate. Taking these plants
from the swamp with considerable of
the earth or moss adhering to the roots,
and planting them in a pot containing
the same sort of soil, they may very
readily be kept for some time. We have
amused ourselves for weeks with these
plants, which always showed the dew-

- hke exudation and retain their sensi-

bility. We can find no finer ornament
for our Terraria than this sun-dew.
What pleasure it 1s, after feeding the
Gold-fish in the morning, toalso present

THE AQUARIUM,

OCTOBER, 1893.

~?

Or

this plant with a small piece of meat
and see it relish it. Proof against the
prayers of the fanatics on fasting, we
take our seat at the table, and think
that a fine roasted duck is not harmful
on Friday, because the flowers them-
selves do not refuse a small beef steak.

Oo

WEEDS AND WATER FOWLS IN
RELATION TO WATER.

It is pleasant, if only for the sake of
variety, to be able to say a good word
for weeds. Into my pond, so writes
a gentleman of our acquaintance, runs
a stream of 25 gallons per minute of
pure water, from a drain which I cut
12 feet deep, some 30 odd years ago.
Weeds will thrive and grow in this
pond, and we have annually to rake
out large quantities of them. They
look very beautiful as they grow in the
pellucid water, which is used for house-
hold purposes. Said a visitor to me
one day, ‘‘ If you hada pair of swans
your pond would be free of weeds ;” so
a kind friend presented me with a pair
and very soon they cleared the pond,
picking the weeds up by the roots and
feeding on them. My family were de-
lighted with the graceful swans and
the removal of weedy obstructions to
boating ; but although the pond was
free of weeds, the water was no longer
pure and pellucid, but most decidedly
muddy in taste, and when the steam
issued from the kettle, the smell of the
mud was unmistakable. Well, no one
thought it could be the swans ; but at
last I came to that conclusion, and des-
pite family and other remonstrances,
returned them to their original owner.
After a short period the weeds reap-
peared, and as they increased in bulk,
the water gradually assumed its pellu-
cidity and purity, and ‘‘ Richard was

himself again.” What the weeds do
for the water and its occupants, the
land vegetation does for the air: man,
animals and other living creatures
poison it, while vegetation absorbs the
injurious gases, and reconverts them
into wholesome food and fuel for man
and beast, filling the atmosphere with
that precious oxygen without which
man and animals and other living
creatures could no longer exist. So it
is in the vast ocean, whose living occu-
pants and vegetation probably exceed
in quantity that which is on land.’
We owe to the river vegetation much
of the purity of water. It is the excess
of impurities from our towns which are
beyond its powers of appropriation,

AUTOINTOXICATION IN GOLD-
BSE

Since last winter we received nearly
a hundred inquiries from all parts of
the country regarding a disease which
caused the death of a great many choice
goldfish. ‘Che symptoms were in each
case described alike. We deem it of
sufficient interest to our readers to de-
vote some space in these columns to its
cause which, we hope, may tend to pre-
vent this fatal disease, as its cure seems
as yet out of the question. ‘he fol-
lowing typical letter sent us recently by
one of our patrons describes the disease
very clearly, and it will be recognized
by many of us at once as the ‘‘ forlorn
hope.” ‘The lady writes as follows:

‘Taking advantage of past kindness, |
write to ask for information regarding a dis-
ease prevalent among my goldfish. A white
scum or mould appears on the tail, most fre-
quently, but sometimes on the fins. It eats
toward the body until the tail is destroyed,
and the fish then dies. I can stay the disease,
I find, by salt-bath, and carefully removing
the mould, but the fish finally dies. It has

76 THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893.

proved very fatal to mine. Often I do not
have a case for some weeks, and then it will
again appear. Can you explain the cause or
give any remedy for the evil? I keep my
fish out of doors, some in cypress tank, others
in a fifteen hundred gallon cement pond. My
fish have been changed about and mixed so I
cannot say that my trouble originated in any
particular receptacle. All my water plants are
in fine growing condition, and that I have
always been told was a proof of healthy sur-
roundings.”

The cause of this disease is self-
poisoning (Autointoxication), brought
about by over-fatigue and scare. We
have frequently had it among goldfish,
especially among imported stock or such
that was bought from inexperienced
dealers. Stock of our own breeding or
that which has been raised and shipped
to us by careful breeders has never been
affected by it. This seems to be proof
that the germs of this disease are laid
while the fish are cooped up in large
numbers in an insufficient quantity of
water while on the road, and by rough
handling of the cans containing them,
all of which causes a severe shock to
their nervous system,

Let us see what these little creatures,
that are intended to become our pets,
are expected to stand from ignorant or
heartless people.

Goldfish are raised in quiet, sunny
ponds, generally pleasantly located.
They are seldom scared, and when they
are, the scare is not very severe, because
they know they can find shelter in
deeper water or among aquatic plants
if need be. Neither are such occasional
scares of long enough duration to have
serious effects. The first trouble begins
when fish are removed from their ponds,
They are then unavoidably more or less
scared by the process of fishing them
out; and when caged-up in dark cans
with too many others of their kind,

their excitement is increased; but when
the oxygen in that can becomes ex-
hausted then they are nearly scared to
death ; they struggle then for dear life,
try to leap out of their horrible prison,
but are prevented by the closed lid of
the can.

With a jolt, that must seem to the
little fish an earthquake, the can is
lifted in the wagon. On their way to
the depot or to the store the can is
jolted about in a more or less rough
way. ‘his, while it has the benefit of
aerating the water, puts a new tax on
the already much exhausted fish ; they
have to use what little strength they
may have left, to swim in the swinging
water, against a current of water as it
were.

Ina perfectly exhausted condition
such fish arrive at the store. Here
they are, in most cases, liberated in a
very rude fashion. The can, being
*‘slammed” out of the wagon, is emp-
tied by simply ‘‘dumping” its con-
tents, helter-skelter into a tank.

If such a journey requires but one or
two hours, the fish will recover from
the shock if afterward under proper
care (See particulars under ‘ 'Trans-
portation ” in The Gold Fish and its
Culture), but when such fish are again
put under similar tortures, to last for
days or weeks without their accustomed
nourishment and without rest to recu-
perate their strength, their system is
completely disarranged, their nerves
and muscles are inflamed, the free cir-
culation of the blood is hindered, and
the fish begins to decompose, although
still alive.

It is a well known fact that wild
animals can be chased to death by dogs.
Even if they are not caught and killed
outright, they often die sooner or later
thereafter of the effects of the great

THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893. rer

scare or shock which their nervous sys-
tem experienced. Excited animals con-
sume oxygen faster than it can be sup-
pled; the consequence is that a chemi-
cal process takes place in the blood of
the fatigued animal which is called
‘*self-poisoning” (Autointoxication).
This is what causes the ‘‘ haut-gott ” in
game, so much admired by gourmands,
which really is nothing less than the
beginning of decomposition in the liv-
ing animal.

Goldfish traveling in insufficiently
aerated cans long distances, are as
much fatigued and scared as is a
stag in a chase by hounds. Weaker
individuals die first of suffocation ;
the stronger ones linger longer, their
gills become inflamed, and _ these
finally die of consumption, while others
have their interior structures disar-
ranged by innumerable minute sores.
No visible sign indicates this terrible
condition, except that the victim moves
slow, appearing very tired. At last,
these little sores unite in one or more
larger ones and open outside of the
body, generally along the back of the
fish, or they appear as a white mould
at the base of the fins, destroying their
structure, when death soon relieves the
poor sufferer.

Fish that are intended for pleasure
or science should be handled gently and
carefully at all times. And since we
all agree that only healthy fish, that
have no fear, are fit objects for our
hobby, dealers should see their interest
in supplying their customers with no
others.

ie —

If THe AQuaRiIuM does not reach
you in proper time, you will oblige the
publisher by informing him of the fact,
and a duplicate copy will be mailed to
you at once.

FREESIAS,

In the ever-lengthening list of win-
ter-flowering bulbs which the enterpris-
ing florists yearly place before the
flower-growing public, there are none
which produce sweeter or more truly
beautiful flowers or give more satisfac-
tion than the Freesias. Nor are there
any of the winter-forcing bulbs that are
more easily grown, and in consequence
of these combinations of desirable quali-
ties one continues to cultivate them .
year after year having once made their
acquaintance.

The stems branch freely, producing
several clusters of flowers, which make
up very gracefully in bouquets and
other floral work, their beautiful forms,
exquisite colorings and delicious per-
fume rendering them highly suitable
for these purposes, as well as for win-
dow garden decoration. Another ad-
mirable point in their favor is their
keeping quality, for when cut and
placed in vases of water they will keep
perfect for two weeks, the buds open-
ing as well as if kept on the plant.

One author, in writing of the merits
of this beautiful flower, says truly :
‘‘The Freesia seems to have been de-,
signed by nature for wear in a lady's
hair, at her throat or breast, or in the
button-hole of the ruder human being.
Six or eight florets, trumpet-shaped,
one to two inches long, appear close
together at the end of the stem, but
instead of being clustered they grow in
arow. The stem bends ata right angle
just where the first floret appears, so
no matter how carelessly the stem is
thrust into coiffure, dress or button-
hole, it hangs as if on a hook, and
makes the greatest possible display of
its bloom, ‘Two or three sprays of the
Freesia worn at a party or theatre will

78 THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893.

give occasional relief from close air, and
a little cluster of it in water will retain
bloom and fragrance for a fortnight,
the unopened buds all coming into
bloom as the older flowers decay and
fall.” ?

A moderately good, light, sandy soil,
the same as used for other bulbs, with
good drainage and plenty of sunlight,
meets its requirements, and after the
bulbs are potted it is not necessary to
set them away in the dark to form
roots, as they commence growing right
away and begin flowering early. If
planted at intervals from September to
November they will give a succession
of bloom during the winter months.
Fortunately, the bulbs are so cheap
that every one can afford to pot up a
good supply of them.

The Giant Bermuda Freesias, intro-
duced last year, form a magnificent
strain of mixed hybrids, producing
flowers of various colors, from fine
white to deep orange, shaded, blotched,
straw-color, etc., and are very large.—
Mayflower.

>

WATER LILIES.

The beautiful flower beds of Lincoln
Park, Chicago, could not detract the
attention from the ponds containing
the aquatic plants. From early morn-
ing until night the World’s Fair visitors
surrounded these ponds. We noticed
nearly all the known species and varie-
ties in the collection and nearly all of
them were in bloom when we saw them.
As could be expected the two Victoria
Regias in bloom, with the curious
tray-like leaves of the plant, were looked
upon with great admiration.

While in Washington this summer
we saw the Parrot’s feather(Myriophyll-
um proserpinacoides) very advantage-
ously used. ‘I'he basin in front of the

U.S. Treasury building is planted with
various rich colored varieties of nymph-
aeas. Out of the center of this large
basin, rise, arranged above each other,
two smaller ones, bowl shaped, in
which the water falls after leaving the
jet. The iower of these contained the
Parrot feather, growing luxuriantly and
overhanging the edges of the bowl like
a great mass of Lycopodium. The
effect was very beautiful and novel.

The basin in front of the White
House, also that in the grounds, con-
tained besides other choice aquatics the
most brilliantly colored and_ largest
nymphaeas we ever saw. All the new
varieties were represented.

We saw a great many beautiful foun-
tains and lily ponds this summer and
shall return to this subject in our next
issue.

—>

HYACINTH BULBS WITHOUT
MONEY.

In order to increase the circulation
of THE AQUARIUM, we make the fol-
lowing offer: For every name and ad-
dress you send to us of a person inter-
ested in aquarium, window gardening
or natural history, who is not already a
subscriber of THE AQUARIUM, we will
send to you, free by mail, one imported
Dutch single Hyacinth bulb; choice of
color left to you.

>

SHIPMENT OF FisH, EaGs, ETC., FROM N. Y.
SrarE HATCHERY.
Total shipment of fish, eggs, etc., under
my supervision, from the Caledonia (N. Y.)
Hatchery for the year 1893 :

Lake Trout Fry . 2, oe 000 | Whitefish Fry. . ay pou 000
Brown A 805 ,000 | Ciscoes omy 5,000
Brook i ote 315, 000 | Muscaionge ** ey ao0, 000
-California ‘‘ 145, Lake Trout Eggs 1,080,050
Matured Bass Fr. v. 26,750 | Brown 250,000
Pike 8,370,000 | Brook < 150, 000
Bullheads te 750) Shrimp -\ea ee 1,500,000

Total production of fry, eggs, etc , 41,562,-
500. Monrork A, GREEN,
Won. H. Bowman, Superintendent.
Comunissioner in charge.

THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893. 79

DAFFODILS GROWN IN WATER.

When planting your bulbs for the
window garden this fall, don’t forget
to plant some Daffodil Bulbs (Narcissus
trumpet major) in a dish filled with
pebbles and water. Treat the same as

you would Chinese sacred lilies, expos-
ing them to light at once. They will
bloom excellently this way, and if
planted at intervals of a couple of
weeks they may be had in bloom from
Christmas until Spring.

|

HART-CO, CIN.

The Paradise Fish, male (Macropodus Venustus.)—Sagittaria natans ‘‘ New Era,”
Ramshorn Snail and Hydra, All Natural Size.

80 THE AQUARIUM, OCTOBER, 1893.

IN THE FISHERIES BUILDING.

When a man who is interested in fish
nets comes along he asks a good many
questions ; but the ladies only say, “Oh,
how lovely this netting is! Are you in
charge of this exhibit ? How long is
fish netting ? How wide is it? How
much is ita yard? He sells it by the
pound, how funny. Do you have all
colors? Could I get some by sending
for it 2 Which kind do you think
would look best in a pink room ? How
much would that kind be? and this
kind ? and that over there ? I notice
that which is hung away up there out
of reach has a different tint; it is so
gauzy and delicate. Ohmy, he says it’s
dust that makes that. Well, give me
your card, please. I’m going to send
for some fish netting as soon as I get
home—a lot of it—enough for a large

curtain. Thanks for answering my
questions. Good day.”—Vishing Ga-
zelte.

=

We cheerfully answer at once, all
queries made in regard to Aquariums
or Window Gardening if return postage
is enclosed.

Miss A.—Ch. After the young gold-
fish swim about in the water, which is
generally about three days after they
were hatched, they should be separated
and only ten or a dozen of them allowed
in a vessel, containing about two gallons
of water, with aquatic plants, and sand
at the bottom. Place such a nursery-
jar in a very light position in order to

|
|

stimulate the production of natural
food for the young fish, but protect it
against the hot sun. During cool
nights the jar should be in a sheltered
position.

When the young are about three or
four weeks old, you can begin to feed
them on powdered I. X. L. fish-food,
prepared fish-food (wafers), also
powdered, and small mosquito larve.
The feeding should be frequent, say
four to six times a day, but each time
very small portions should be given.

A temperature of 60 to 90° F. is all
right for young fish, provided that they
have a sufficient quantity of water and
access to shade, but 70 to 80° F. is best
for them. If you find that you feed
too much, you should remove the sur-
plus by means of a dipping tube, at
least once in three days. We don’t
agree with you in thinking that you are
over anxious about your fish; we have
numbers of patrons of your sex who
take as much interest in their aquarium
as they do in their garden or green-
house, and we are pleased to acknowl-
edge that not a few of them are very
successful fish culturists.

Miss B—. Use nothing else but table
salt and water to clean the glass of your
aquarium. It will remove any growth
or sediment from the glass without
scratching it.

>

The Sagittaria Francis M. which we
described in our last number is still
in bloom in our aquarium, ‘To-day,
September 9th, it has its ninth flower
spike,

—_

With this number begins a new sub-
scription. Those who know themselves
to be in arrears are kindly requested to
remit.

CEC GE /
On
a / Bet. Broadwa ah Me tis
a ca oe yi NEW YORK:
a.» New Self-Sustaining Aquarium,

eat Pace, Renin change of water CATALOGUE. FREE,

Uy Vy \

{

Choice Bulbs for Fall Planing

' 4

Dutch and Roman Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissus, Crocus, ye
Freesia and Lilies. en

CHINESE SACRED LILY (Chin. Narcissus.)
OUR OWN IMPORTATION at very low rates.

AQUARIUM PLANTS AND SEEDS, NEW CROP. ORNAMENTAL FISE.
SEND FOR PRICES.

UG NIUE Ik Z

£73 Nostrand Avenue, BROOKLYN, N. Y, an

The American Magazine o
of Natural Science, =

It is a Magazine for Naturalists, BAe
in every sense of the word.

THEY ALL SAY IT’S THE BEST. } i
Subscription Price, only 25 cents per year, ;

- ee Monthly. i
ee) 5 a
yy eee AND O Several features are being intro- ery
317 BROADWay' crest ano SALT WATER ANGUNG- BEATING. ETGe duced, which make this magazine
NEW YORK. __ (Established 1884.) as good and better than many of the

‘The only publication in America exclusively devoted to everything pertaining higher priced magazines. Sample
to FISH andFISHING. A valuable medium for the advertiser. Try it! copy sent for stamp. Circulation,
2,500 monthly.

TRED R. STEARNS & CO,, Publishers,
PUBLISHERs Sac City, Ia.,and Des Moines, Ia.

an Subscription price $1.50 per year, post paid.

} ‘SEND FOR sample cory. G, E, JENNINGS,

MANUFACTURER OF

ROQUBRIA

39 and 41 PARK PLACE, NEW YORK. f
AQUARIA STOCK ALWAYS ON HAND?

Gold, Pearl, Silver, Sun,
and Rock Fish, Turtles,
etc.,

IN THEIR SEASON.

ey 2
SD ii =e
PTET NNTEEO ca TMNT

—— =

Japanese Gold Fish

ALSO

Aquaria Plants, all varieties.

Full line of Grottoes,

Arches, Rocks, etc., car-
ried in stock.

Also Manufacturer of Fountains, Drinking Fountains, Settees, Chairs,
Lamp Posts, Railings, ete.

CATALOGUE FURNISHED GRATIS UPON APPLICATION.

SIFTED BIRD SEED.

IF YOU WANT BIRD SEED FREED FROM

DIRT, GRAVEL and MOTES,

ASK YOUR GROCER OR DRUGGIST FOR

~- McALLISTER’S. «#

are seed is carefully selected best quality of canary,
German rape, and imported millet seeds, and is put
up fresh in one-pound boxes.

Birds which can sing and won’t sing, are
made to sing with

Sheppard's Song Restorer,

OR A TREAT.
Also an Invigorating Tonic for Canary Birds,
Goldjfinches, Linnets and all Seed Birds.

This pretension will in every case restore to their

natural notes birds who have lost their song from
the effects of cold or excessive moulting. For breed-
ing Birds and their young, and old Birds it is invalua-
ble, strengthening their voice and improving their
plumage. Also valuable for Taming Birds,

FOR SALE BY ALL DRUGGISTS AND AT ALL BIRD STORES.

EF. Be. McALDLISTER,,

-— DEALER IN —

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*

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A perfectly pure article,— specially prepared for.
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iy

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