” f DIVISION OF vrei fe 3 Wes ee JANUARY, 1894. “Books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything.” A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR THE ACCLIMATIZATION Animals and Plants, 50 cents a year. Single copies, 15 cents each. HUGO: MULERTT, BROOKLYN, N. Y. CopyriaHT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Entered at the Post-Office at Brooklyn, N. Y., as second-class mail matter, nates mois 9) OR 2) n ~i— cold Fish, Japanese Font ALSO PARADISE FISH, ALL KINDS OF AQUATIC PLANT For Descriptive, Illustrated Catalogue, send two cents. se = ADDRESS) ——— A OUARIUM DEPOT, No. 712 Twelfth Street, N.W., WASHINGTON, D. Lo | NICHOLAS WAPLER, _ IMPORTER OF - China and Glassware. EARTHENWARE AND LAVA GOODS, __ French Crystal Glass Shades. Manufacturer of Round, Oval and Square Glass Shades, Fis! Globes, Aquaria, Glass Jars and Floating Animals. 50 BARCLAY STREET, ESTABLISHED 1876. WATER LILIES OF ALL COLORS. Aquatic Plants in Greatest Variety The finest Parks and Gardens in America have been supplied from ur vet Aba collection. Catalogue with prices and full instructions for cult sent free ; EDMUND D. STU RTEVANT, BCRDENT Os NEW JER A ehh sooty of Fish, Aquatic Plants, Etc., For Sale. ENGRAVINGS MADE T0 0 Address, THE AQUA So by AT REASONABLE RATES. fiuaevls ND on > tin yL\ . BEF Re JANUARY, 1894. Copyricut 1893. ALL RigHTs RESERVED. DENOMINATIVE CHARACTER- ISTICS OF FRESH WATER FISHES. IV. THE CARP-LIKE FISHES. Cyprinide (continued). THE CRUSSIAN CARP. (Carrasius vulgaris) Die Karausche. Le Carassin. The body of this fish is short and compressed, much like that of our American pumpkin-seed sunfish, and is covered with medium sized scales. The head is large and blunt, the lips not supplied with barbles, the eyes sil- very. The color along the back is either brown, with a golden hue or dark green; the sides are golden, and the abdomen, if the back is green, sil- very, and yellowish if the back is brown. The dorsal fin is large, extending from the middle of the back nearly to the tail ; the abdominal fins are tinted with red and rather set off the appear- ance of the fish. The flesh is very agreeable to the palate, but unfortu- nately the fish never grows to any size, not exceeding two pounds in weight. The spawning season occurs at the same period as the carp’s and follows the same plan; the eggs, too, are ad- hesive. The species is a dangerous one to put in ponds in company with carp, for the reason that hybrids of no value are produced, which only create confusion, do not benefit the stock, and are readily mistaken for the real carp. The hybrid possesses but two barbles, short and blunt, which fact is about the only one by which they may be distinguished. THE GOLDEN CRUSSIAN CARP. Carassius aureus. Die Gold Karausche. Carassin Wor. This is a much more valuable variety than the preceding,and like it,a native of Germany and in shape the same. They both live exclusively in standing water, often in stagnant pools; this habit fit- ting them particularly for the aquarium to which they become accustomed without any trouble, at the same time constituting a beautiful acquisition. They commence spawning as early as one year of age. At two or three years old the golden crussian changes its color, becoming a bright and beautiful scarlet. 82 THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. THE COMMON GOLDFISH. Carassius auratus. Der Goldfisch. Poisson rouge. This prime old favorite, for so many years cultivated in ponds and aquariums for the sake of ornamentation, is, para- doxically as it may appear, widely known, yet little understood. It is a native of China, where it is extensively cultivated, and the crossing of the different species is there made a scientific study. They are kept as domestic pets, and under patient train- ing learn to come to the sound of a whistle, to receive food. The most beautiful varieties come from a lake in the province of Che-Kyang. The first introduction of the goldfish into Eu- rope is variously dated ; the years 1611 AGW, 169leAs Ds wand 728 As. "D., each having claims for that honor. THE COMMON GOLDFISH. The first seen in France were those imported for Madame de Pompadour, in the reign of Louis XV. Soon after- wards they became tolerably common, as it was found that they throve well in the waters of southern Europe, es- pecially in Portugal, where they sprung from a few small fish, said to have es- caped from a vessel newly arrived from China. It was not long before several of the streams in the neighborhood of Lisbon absolutely swarmed with them, and it is from this source that all Eu- rope became stocked with them. From Europe the fish was brought to Amer- ica and quickly won its way into favor. The body of the fish is elongated and entirely covered with a coat of uni- formly sized scales. The head is short, the lips well developed and without barbles. The color is generally an orange yellow with a golden hue, and sometimes marked with black ; the ab- domen may be either yellowish or white. The name of the entire family, of course, had its origin in the prevailing golden color of the species. ‘The dorsal fin is long, reaching from the middle of the back, nearly to the tail ; specimens with a shorter dorsal fin are deformed. This species has also, sometimes, two anal fins; the caudal fin or tail is on the lower side, sometimes divided, giv- ing the tail, if viewed from behind, the shape of a reversed letter ‘‘ y.” The fish when full grown measure eighteen inches in length by six inches in height, and are known to live to an age of one hundred years. Goldfish enjoy a warm temperature best, are very hardy, and thrive under circumstances that would be fatal to many others. They are thus particularly well adapted for life in the aquarium, specimens having been successfully kept in good health and condition for from ten to sixteen years. The goldfish feeds upon almost all kinds of vegetable matter, insects, worms, etc., and will also prey upon small fish, even devouring its own spawn and young. If kept in an aqua- rium, the best diet for them is prepared fish food, wafers or crackers, with now and then some finely chopped raw beef or earth worms. The method of reproduction and the season at which it occurs is identical with that of the carp; the eggs, like- wise, are adhesive. The size of the fish has nothing whatever to do with the ability to THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. 83 spawn, though a large fish will deposit more eggs than a small one. Asan in- stance, goldfish, one inch in length, nine months old, spawned in an aqua- rium kept in a parlor; all the eggs hatched and the young grew up. Gold- fish can be made to spawn from March till October. The young are hatched out in from two to six days, the period of incubation being determined by the temperature of the water and the condition of the weather. Direct sunlight has the effect of hastening the process. The fish arrive at maturity the season after hatching, and are then ready to repro- duce in their turn. During the first few weeks the young fish are devoid of coloring, being of a silvery gray. At, six weeks old thiscolor begins to change, the fish gradually turning darker and then assuming the rich yellow, the back and fins sometimes becoming black. The perfection and rapidity of the coloring process depend upon several causes, foremost among which is the proper selection of specimens from which to breed. This is an important, in fact the prime factor, upon which hinges the character of the result. The parent fish should be those selected from among the very best, and also having obtained their coloring during the same season that they were hatched. And now comes an essential point, the determination of which has hitherto been impossible, and that is the certain distinction of the sexes. This indeed is a difficult matter, and can only be re- vealed to the practiced eye of the pisci- culturist. . It was formerly supposed, and is yet, that the male was always that one hav- ing a short dorsal fin. As previously stated, such a specimen is a deformity. It is true, however, that about three out of five of tl’ese short dorsal fin fish are males, but the existence of an ex- ception to the extent of forty per centum is quite sufficient to impugn the validity of the rule. For some years past the author has experimented upon and investigated the subject, with the avowed determination of forever putting at rest all contro- versy upon the question. During the breeding season, as that is the only period when any difference is obsery- able, the male can ¢nvariably be distin- - guished by the presence of simall white tubercles on the gill covers and the first ray of the pectoral fins. The author is substantiated in this statement, for it will be remembered in the description of the Carp, that that fish during the breeding season presents tubercles on the head. The goldfish being a species of the Carp family, it is not unnatural that a trait or peculiarity of one species should reappear in another. The selection of the male having now been made, the next step is to procure the best female. It is an old rule with breeders ‘‘ never to use stock you don’t know, to breed from,” and is a law to be respected in raising ornamental fish, applying especially to the fancy varie- ties of goldfish, hereafter to be de- scribed. j When hatched, the young fish are further subjected to modification by their surroundings ; the temperature of the water, its depth, quality, etc., all exercising more or less influence. The complete result of the breeding, so far as the coloring is concerned, cannot be seen until the change has taken place, and then any errors that have been . made are at once apparent. Those fish that have failed to receive any coloring are then called silver-fish ; 84 THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. should they have turned milky white (albinos), which, however, the common goldfish seldom does, they are known as pearl-fish, The young, when kept in warm ponds, may grow six inches long in four months; as a general thing the length reached in that time is from two and a half to three inches. Deformities occur oftener in this family of fishes than in any other, and this would also seem to help disprove the correctness of the theory that the male has a short dorsal fin. Specimens minus a dorsal, anal or even caudal fin are frequent, but it is rare to see one destitute of scales, or minus an eye or with a lobsided mouth. It may also be mentioned, that should a few scales be accidentally knocked off of a goldfish, nature will soon replace them. The old-fashioned goldfish has, for the last fifty years, perhaps, become wild in the United States. Having accident- ally escaped into open waters, it soon made itself at home, becoming thorough- ly acclimated, and in consequence has been quoted by several authors as a native American fish. It is true that having been born here it is in one sense native, but is not native, in the sense, origin, or having originated here. Living thus in a wild state the fish has greatly degenerated from the origi- nal standard. The cultivation of the goldfish has lately received a new impulse through the efforts of the late Admiral Daniel Ammen, of the United States Navy. This gentleman, about sixteen years ago, brought from Japan a number of speci- mens of the choicest varieties, which have since been reproduced with success, ‘l'o these were added others by import- ers on the Pacific coast and the author, who first imported the ‘Telescope fish. JAPANESE GOLDFISHES.* (Carassius japonicus. ) Japanische Goldfische. Poisson @ Orient. The Japanese specify the goldfish by the shape of the body and that of the fins, the coloring in most species being the same. The prevailing colors are vermilion, gold and white, if indeed the last can be called a color. The Japanese classification being rather complicated, the species’ names will be omitted for convenience sake, and the fish described in the manner others have been, though at the same time retaining the foreign nomencla- ture. THE TELESCOPE. This fish is indeed an odd looking affair. The body is spherical very much like that of a frog-tadpole, and covered, as all goldfishes are, with medium-sized scales. The fins are very delicate in structure ; the anal fin most- ly absent; the caudal fin is double, very large and deeply divided. ‘The eyes are large and project forward, having the appearance of a small telescope adjust- ed to the eye (see illustration); from this the fish received the name it bears. To make the eyes more prominent the Japanese culturist resorts to an ingeni- ous device. He places the young fish in small, dark-glass vessels shaped for the purpose, and which obliges the fish to look constantly in but one direction. The color of the fish may be either vermilion, white or jet black or part of either, the markings in that case being very beautiful. The body of the fish is all out of proportion to the size of the fins, and in consequence propulsion is a difficult matter. *The Goldfish and its Systematic Culture.—Mulertt. THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. In spawning, the male rolls the fe- male about among the stones in a most pitiful manner, sometimes for days to- gether ; this is an effort of the male to assist in the extrusion of the eggs. When spawned the eggs attach them- selves to the stones and other substan- tial objects rather than to water-plants, probably because it is amongst the stones that the extrusion takes place. When the young are first hatched, they appear exactly like the common goldfish. They rest upon the water- plants or other supports for a couple of D a) For this reason, which is the main one, and because the fish is véry diffi- cult to propagate, it is exceedingly rare, even in Japan. When mature, the telescope fish is about the size of a man’s fist. THE FRINGE-TAINL. The body of the fringe-tail is short. egg-shaped and slightly compressed ; the eyes normal, but very variable in the color of the iris, which is that cur- tain in the anterior portion of the eye that, by its contraction and dilation,’ THE TELESCOPE. days, at the end of which time the yolk- bag is absorbed ; then commences the struggle for existence. The double tail, which is even then large enough to be distinguished, hinders the tiny creatures (but one-quarter of an inch in length) in their movements in the water. Should they find sufficient food to make a bountiful meal, matters become still worse; they lose their balance and can not go at all until digestion is com- pleted, in the meanwhile falling an easy and welcome prey to numerous enemies. regulates the quantity of light that enters the optic. In this fish the color of the iris may be any color, excepting green only, in different individuals. The fins are large and of very fine structure ; the anal fin is double, while the caudal may be either double, treble or quadruple, as the case may be, and is larger than the body, drooping very gracefully. (See illustration on page 24.) These special characteristics, among all the fancy varieties, are not fully devel- oped until the second year. In the color- 86 THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. ing of the body and fins this fish is not surpassed by any other, making one of the most valuable and desirable objects for the aquarium. There are specimens the back and sides of which are deep vermilion, the abdomen, throat and eyes of rich gold, while all the fins are milk white. Others again will be found presenting a rich vermilion on that part of the body forward of the dorsal fin, including the throat, part of the abdo- men, and the respective fins, while all back of that is pure white. Some there are with body all white, the fins red, and vice versa ; others pearly, dotted with irregularly shaped pink spots, the eyes being blue ; again, the entire fish will be white, the only touch of color being the deep red of the large eyes. In fact, it is impossible within the limits of this sketch to enumerate the endless variety of the markings to be seen, and one can only get an adequate idea by examining alargenumber. Strange as it may seem, this beautiful species of fish was nearly lost to this country through the caprice of private individ- uals who happened, or rather were lucky enough, to possess perfect specimens, and were unwilling that others should enjoy the possession of the like. But fortunately, a lady both generous and appreciative, rather than that the stock should die out, loaned to the author for the purpose of reproduction several fine specimens she had recently obtained through the courtesy of Ad- miral Ammen. The pure stock may now be considered secure for the future. In evidence of the extreme beauty of the species, it may be stated that private parties paid for fine specimens twenty times the weight of the fish in gold. What has been said about the diffi- culty of raising telescope fish, may with almost equal propriety be repeated for the fringe-tail. Unlike the former, the latter fish spawns against aquatic plants, the extrusion of the eggs not being so difficult. THE FANTAIL. The body is elongated and compressed ‘on the sides; the head pointed; the fins are short and stout, the anal some- times double, and occasionally found wanting. The caudal fin is compara- tively short, is double, with the upper edges grown together ; it is sometimes erect like that of the fantail pigeon (see illustration), or projects horizon- tally. The colors are mostly vermilion and white; in some cases the whole body is white, with the exception of the abdomen, this being golden ; in others the body is dark red, the belly also golden. The color of the eyes is vari- able. It may be mentioned here as an ad- vantage of the double-tailed fish, that they are unable to jump out of the water. This fact is undoubtedly one to be appreciated by those keeping an aquarium. THE COMET. This is a noble looking fish, and greatly resembles the fantail. Its body is slender, the fins very large and of fine structure ; the caudal fin is single and deeply divided. The color- ing is identical with the preceding. (See illustration on page 44.) THE NYMPH. The body of this species is oblong, - and much compressed on the sides ; the head is short, and fins normal. The color varies from a light to a deep ver- milion, sometimes white ; a background of white beautifully dotted with crim- son, the throat golden, makes a magnifi- THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. 87 cent combination that is very ornament- al indeed. The sub-varieties of this are the Ramsnose and the Hognose. THE RAMSNOSE. That part of the body of this fish from the mouth to the dorsal fin forms a bow, like the forehead of a ram, this feature giving the fish its name. The THE HOODED GOLDFISH. This species the Japanese introduced from Corea. In general shape and color it resembles the ‘‘ Fantail.” At maturity (the age of one or two years), a swelling of the skin on top of the head appears, which sometimes even surrounds the eyes. The appearance of the fish’s head reminds one very much THE JAPANESE FANTAIL GOLDFISH. lower part of the body from the mouth to the tail continues a straight line. THE HOGNOSE The peculiarity of this fish is just the reverse, concaved, greatly resembling the head of a fat hog. All of the goldfish described above do not attain a very great size, seldom at- taining a length of more than eight inches. | of the head of the ‘‘ Carrier,” a type of fancy pigeons. We do not say that this peculiarity is beautiful, but it cer- tainly is very curious. In the Japanese display at the World’s Fair at Chicago we noticed two specimens of this type of goldfish in alcohol. ‘The Coreans call them ‘* Ranchoo,” and in Tokyo they are known by the name of ‘‘ Ma- ruko.” 88 THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. THE AQUARIU™. A QUARTERLY MAGAZINE. 50 cts. a Year. Single Copies, 15 cts. Each, Sample Copies Free. Advertising Rates on Application. HUGO MULERTT, Publisher, 173 Nostrand Av., Brooklyn, N. Y. CHINESE GOLDFISHES. (Carassius orientalis) Chinesische Goldfische. Poisson @ Orient. The Chinese species of goldfish differ more from each other in color than in the shape of the body and fins, the con- trary being the dominant characteristic of the Japanese species, described above. So startling are these colors that one is almost immediately reminded of the story in the “‘ Arabian Nights’ Enter- tainments” of the enchanted lake, the fish in which were of four colors, yel- low, blue, red and white, and were peo- ple of four races, who had in some way incurred the displeasure of a genius, who, in revenge, had thus transformed them. The Chinese reckon seven distinct species, each with its sub-varieties, the most of them very beautiful indeed. Of the species King-Yu, the variety ealled THE MOTTLED BEAUTY is very remarkable. Beneath, the fish is simply silvered, but on the back and sides it is mottled with rich hues of blue, yellow, black and rose, the latter color deepening into pure crimson at the gills, Along the ridge of the back, especially near the tail, the black be- comes very intense, and has the rich ap- pearance of a piece of Lyons velvet. Another of the same species is THE SUPERB. This magnificent fish, when fully de- veloped, is nearly fifteen inches long. The under part is silvered like the pre- ceding, but the back, which is remark- ably broad, is splendidly varied with scarlet and black, the scales being deli- cately edged with a metallic gold color. THE SMALL BLUE. This, like the others, is also silvery on the abdomen, but which, however, is delicately flushed with pale rose. The whole of the sides and back are of a rich azure, which shines with a metallic luster. THE MOOR, OR DARKEY, is another distinct variety, and isa large fish. The back and sidesare very nearly black, which becomes violet under- neath. All of the scales are edged with a red-toned bronze. THE PIE-BALD. Species Ouen- Yu. This is a very beautiful variety, the ground color of which is a delicate flesh tint, and upon which there are large patches of rich brown, very much lke the markings of a pie-bald horse. THE RUBY: Species Nin-eubk- Yu. This is a fish of exquisite beauty, be- ing of a delicate semi-opaque, violet crimson, gradually shading off to pale rose underneath. A peculiarly fine variety of this species is THE RED FIN, the body of which is a delicate azure, while the head, tail and fins are an in- tense scarlet. THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY. 1594. 89 THE TUMBLER. Species Kin-teon- Vu. This is a remarkable fish, and one that seems quite distinct. The head and tail are bent upward, giving to the entire fish the form of a crescent. When swimming it has the habit of throwing itself over and over in the same manner that tumbler pigeons do when flying. The color of the fish is a magnificent blue flushed with orange, making a gorgeous display. THE ELEGANT. This is a variety of the species Ouen- Yu, or ‘‘lettered kind,” so named because the streaky markings are not altogether unlike Chinese characters. It is of a pure white, sparingly dashed with patches of pearly pink on the body, and having some exquisite letter-like markings or tracings about the head and tail. Another variety of the species is rich scarlet, shading off to black on the back, in the midst of which is a large cross of pure white having two trans- verse bands like the Cross of Lorraine, by which name the author thinks proper to designate it. (To be continued.) PHILADELPHIA, Pa., October 15, 1893. To the Editor of THE AQUARIUM. Let me give an account of a minute floating water-plant that has come under my ken. It is so small as to need a magnifying glass for its study, being probably not so large as a Portulacca seed, and is globular in shape. They are propagated by germination or bud- ding. Aslight elevation of the surface is seen, that gets larger and larger, until in a few days a new plant emerges from the mother one ; that immediately begins to go itself through the same process, and becomes in its turn a progenitor. These plants do not seem to have roots, being only small cellujar spheres, colored bright green with chlorophylle. I will try to present a few drawings of them. DOS EY ©O),@ No. 1 isa plant previous to germination or budding. Nos. 2, 8, and 4are different stages of that process. No. 5 represents a young plant just freed from the parent one. No. 6 is an enface figure, showing the pit from : which the young one has escaped. No. 7 is a profile figure of the same thing. These are mere enlarged outline drawings, the whole plant consisting of a collection of cells. W. Brineuourst, M. D., Philadelphia, Pa. > THE LOBSTER. SOME NEW POINTS ABOUT THE LIFE OF THIS TOOTHSOME CRUSTACEAN. Fred. Mather, Superintendent of the New York State Hatchery at Cold Spring Harbor, told the American Fish- eries Society, at the World’s Exposition at Chicago, in June last, what is known of the lobster. In his remarks he said: “‘ Within a few years much has been learned of the life history of our com- mon lobster that we did not know be- fore. Weknew that the female carried the eggs after extrusion, attached in masses to the so-called swimmerets un- der the abdomen, which is improperly called the ‘‘tail,” and that they hatched there. In Bell’s ‘ British Crustacea’ it is said that the mother cares for the young after hatching and can recall them for protection. My own observa- tions are that the young scatter and find protection in the rocks. ‘‘T am satisfied that the lobster car- ries her eggs all winter, and that all 90 THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. those laid after the middle of July, in Long Island Sound, will not hatch the same year, but eggs taken late last year afford a chance to give some figures which may be of value. On August 11, 1892, we took from twelve lobsters forty-three fluid ounces of eggs, which by actual count measured 6,000 to the ounce, and on August 16 took from thirty-three lobsters ninety-four ounces, making in all 822,000 eggs or 18,266 per lobster. We could not keep these eggs all winter, and they showed only slight development a month later. ‘* No work that has occupied the at- tention of fishculturists compares with what may be done in replacing the lob- ster industry on the footing which it held in comparison to the population of the country forty years ago. ‘Then a lobster of five pounds was a small one, now one-half of that weight is large, and the numbers have decreased in even greater proportion. The only things that approach the importance of lobster culture in economic importance is the hatching of white-fish on the great lakes, and the shad in the rivers; the trout and salmon will compare with the lobster in value, if the latter can be in- creased as the former have been. ‘*Tt is possible to bring this neglected brinch of fishculture to a point where it will, on the seaboard, at least, over- shadow the other branches in which we have been engaged. “‘ After making notes about lobsters carrying their eggs all winter, when laid after July 15, I received the follow- ing letter from Prof. Samuel Garman, of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., dated August 30, 1892 : Mr. Frep. MATHER: Dear Sir: 1 am very glad to get your re- ports and to know that you are pushing in- quiries into life-history of the lobster and the fishes which you propagate. I take pleasure in sending you a little report of my own on the lobster. Very truly, S. GARMAN, ** To say just how I rejoiced to find that Prof. Garman’s studies confirmed my own crude observations is beyond my power. It is pleasant to have one’s ideas confirmed by any one who has studied the subject more than he has; but I will quote Prof. Carman’s paper entire: REPORT ON THE LOBSTER. BY 8. GARMAN, Museum OF COMPARATIVE ZooLoey, t CAMBRIDGE, Mass., December 17, 1891. The Hon. EH. A. Brackett, Massachusetts State Fishery Commissioner. Sir: Yours, with inquiries regarding the conclusions reached in the study of the lobster, is at hand While unavoidable delay in the drawings prevents placing the complete mat- ter in your hands, it is quite possible to give you in a few words a general idea of the re- sults and their bearings, such as will no doubt sufficiently answer your questions. According to the arrangements made, some of the eggs from berried lobsters kept for the purpose were sent me at regular intervals through an entire year. These eggs were at once examined to note their progress in de- velopment, and they were then preserved by various methods for future studies and com- parisons. After their young were hatched the females themselves were dissected, to ob- serve the condition of their ovaries, ana to de- termine the time when another lot of eggs might have been expected from them. As our work began in midwinter it was necessary to follow certain specimens up to the hatch- ing, and then to take others to complete the series from the laying. Eggs supplied me as freshly laid were so far advanced as to indi- cate that fertilization had taken place before they were placed under the tail of the lobster bearing them. The time and process of fer- tilization has not been discovered ; but in all likelihood the marine lobster does not differ greatly in these respects from its fresh water relatives, the cray-fishes. In the case of the latter the male seeks the female some time be- THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. 91 fore the eggs are laid, and deposits the fertil- izing matter on the upper side of the body, near the external openings of the oviducts, where it adheres for a time as a whitish mass. How the fertilizing elements, the spermatozoa, come in contact with the eggs and enter them, has not yet been observed. The development of the embryo in eggs laid on August 7 or 8 was so rapid that on September 3 the eyes were visible as thin crescent-shaped spots. As the water grew colder the progress was re- tarded, until the changes were very slight in- deed. This condition was maintained throughout the winter, and it was only when the summer temperature was reached that rapidity of advancement was again to be noted. The young began to hatch on the 14th of July ; all of the eggs on a female seeming to be about equally advanced, the entire brood emerged at very nearly the same time. Examination of the ovaries, after their young had left, showed that the females would not have laid eggs again for a year ; that is, not before the summer next following tbat in which they had hatched a brood. In other words, the dissections proved that the lobster lays only once in two years, hatching a brood one sum- mer and laying eggs the next following sum- mer for another brood. The time required in the development of the embryo is so long as to preclude hatching the eggs under ordinary circumstances during the summer in which they are laid. Artificial conditions might readily be brought about, by heating the water in which the specimens are kept, which would hasten the progress and greatly shorten the period between laying and hatching; but normally the winter temperature induces an almost complete suspension of advancement. By the small number of specimens kept, it was not possible to fix the lengths of either the laying or hatching periods. This, how- ever, may be approximately done in connec- tion with observations made by the United States Fish Commission. It must be borne in mind, in this connection, that the seasons south of Cape Cod begin earlier and last longer than in Massachusetts Bay, and that further north they will be still more contracted. Variation must also be expected in different years, as the seasons are earlier or later, and in different localities, as the waters are warmer or colder. Though the bulk of the laying or hatching in any particular year occurs within periods of two or three weeks, probably four- fifths of either is finished in less than a fort- night ; to make allowance for the early years and for the late ones, and to include the early and the belated individuals, it becomes neces- sary to considerably extend the general per- iods. From all that has been gathered we may summarize as follows: (1) The female lobster lays eggs but once in two years, the layings being two years apart ; (2) the normal time of laying is when the water has reached its sum- mer temperature, varying in different seasons and places, the period extending from about the middle of June till about the 1st of Sep- tember, and (3) the eggs do not hatch before the summer following that in which they were laid, the time of hatching varying with the temperature, and the period extending from about the middle of May till about the 1st of August. I have the honor to be, very re- spectfully yours, S. GARMAN. This represents all that is known of the life history of the lobster to-day. Our plants from the eggs taken July 8, 1892, were made on July 12 18 and 20, and was probably the last of the eggs laid the summer before. Ido not believe that ‘‘ the lobster lays eggs all the year round,” as has been said. The animal leaves the ‘‘ crawls” in cold weather and seeks a depth where the temperature is higher, and the lobstermen shift their pots in accord- ance with this migration. When it is remembered that the eggs which we get would be sent to market, boiled with the lobsters and thrown away with the shells, it will be seen what may be done in lobster cul- ture with proper facilities. The lob- ster is easier to catch than a rabbit, for it has less sense, and when it sees a lob- ster pot with its bait, it seems to have found its haven of rest, and it has. The decrease of the number of lob- sters from Newfoundland to New Jer- sey has been accompanied by a decrease in size and a corresponding increase in 92 THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. price per pound. In proof of this I will quote from the Scientific American: «©The depletion of the lobster fisheries has been especially noticeable in Can- ada. The report of 1888 showed a de- crease in the value of exports of $350,- 000 as compared with the previous year, although there had been an advance in price of 25 per cent. The value of the Canadian lobster fishery in 1888 was $1,483,388 ; in 1886, $2,638,394; in 1885, $2,613,731.” Could figures speak plainer than these ? Up to June 11, this year, we have planted 85,350 young lobsters, and have on hand 510,000 eggs. We can- not keep the young many days, because they are cannibals, and as they moult about three times in the first ten days and are then soft, their brethren de- vour them. I have fed them crab and lobster meat, clams and beef, with the hope of bribing them to refrain from eating their fellows, but did not suc- ceed. They are persistent cannibals, and must be put out at a few days old on rocky bottom, where there are al- ways hiding places for a soft lobster to remain until his skin hardens into a new and larger shell. pent Taig SE Tees DWARFING PLANTS IN JAPAN. A paper read by Henry Izawa of Japan, at the Nurserymen’s Session at the World’s Con- gress, Chicago, 1893, The customs and circumstances con- nected with every-day life in your great country, the traditions and customs of ours, makes the Japanese and American nurseriesas different as are the latitudes of both countries. In America the mad- dening rush of commercial seas, navi- gated by the unsatisfiable children of the world, demands the quickest re- turns on all outlays; the taller you can grow a seedling or a cutting in the shortest possible time the better your chances of success ; while the Japanese nurseryman must exercise unlimited patience and conform to the popular arts of his country. The Japanese nursery trade is di- vided into two great sections, one for the cultivation of plants for export, which are grown on the same principle as those in this country, and one for plants for home trade, which latter are of an entirely different class. In Japan we have very many beautiful species of shrubs and herbaceous plants that are little if at all known in this country. The nurseries of Japan are very ex- tensive and well kept; millions of plants are yearly grown for home and foreign trade, and I am pleased to note the export trade in Japanese nursery stock is yearly increasing in very great proportions. The art of dwarfing plants is so little known in other lands that a short de- scription of its process is not out of place here. A few examples will suffice to give youa general idea. The suc- cessful Japanese nurseryman must not only be a good grower, but he must also be an artist, conversant with the general arts and customs of his country, which differ very materially with those of any other country. The pines may be considered the most important of all trees in Japan, and great care is taken of their cultiva- tion and preservation. The most popu- lar ones are Pinus densiflora, Pinus parsiflora and Pinus Thunbergii. They are generally grown from seed, and great care is taken to select the choicest qualities. In the Spring of the second year, when the seedlings areabouteight | inches in height, they are staked with bamboo canes and tied with rice straw, THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. 93 the plants being bent in different desir- able shapes. The next fall they are transplanted to a richer soil and well fertilized. In the following Spring the plants are restaked and twisted and tied in fanciful forms. This mode of treatment is given until the seventh year, when the trees will have assumed fairly large proportions, the branches being trained in graceful formsand the foliage like small clouds of dense green. The plants are now taken up and _ pot- ted in pots one and one-half feet in diameter, and are kept well watered. Every succeeding year great care must be taken of new shoots, which must be kept pinched back. After another three years of this treatment the trees are virtually dwarfed, there being no visible growth thereafter. The dwarfing of bamboo is another important branch of the Japanese nursery business. Three weeks after bamboo shoots begin to grow, and when the trunks measure about eight inches in circumference and five feet in height, the bark is removed, piece by piece, from the joint. After five weeks, when the plants get somewhat stout, bend and tie the stem zigzag ; after three months, when the side ‘shoots grow strong enough, cut them all off five or six inches from the main trunk; they are then dug up and potted in sand; care should be taken not to use any fertilizer, but plenty of ‘water should be given. Cut off the large shoots every year, in May or June, and after three years the twigs and leaves will present admirable yel- low and green tints. Dwarfed Thuyas are effected by means of grafting. Leta Thuya Lobbi seedling grow on fertile soil for three years, or until it becomes about five feet in length ; then in the middle of spring cut off all branches, leaving the trunk and top branch; take a one- quarter inch chisel and hammer it into the thickest portion of the trunk, hol- low out a one-inch deep hole to every two or three-inch space, so that the trunk can be bent more easily in the desired direction ; rice straw is twisted round the trunk, which is bent in many curious forms and fanciful shapes. In spring time of the second year of this treatment the plants are potted in rich soil ; in another two years, when the: plants have assumed permanent forms, Thuya obtusa is then grafted on the Lobbi stem. The process of grafting is in brief as follows: Apply plenty of fertilizer to the Thuya Lobbi plant; in early spring take some two-inch shoots of Thuya obtusa, cut the end in a slanting plane, and insert in the smaller portions of the Thuya Lobbi trunk, one graft to every inch on the trunk; wrap the grafts with rice straw and take the plants to a shady, windless room, with the temper- ature at 35 degrees F.; increase the temperature one or two degrees daily ; continue this for three weeks; by this time a little breeze may be admitted, and leave the temperature of the room 66 degrees for two weeks and at 70 de- grees for two weeks; leaves will soon grow from the grafted twigs. In the latter part of spring, when the temper- ature in and out of doors becomes uni- form, the plants can be safely trans- ferred to some shady position out of doors. In the fall, when all the grafts have taken good hold, cut off all the remaining shoots of Thuya Lobbi. Transplant every year in good rich soil ; six years will be sufficient to produce handsome specimens of dwarfed Thuyas. All kinds of conifers are treated in a similar manner. ‘There are also a great 94 THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. demand for curiosities in mixed grafted conifers—that is, six or seven kinds of conifers on one plant. Maples form one of the best mate- rials for the artistic fancies of the Japan- ese craftsman. Often a great many different varieties of maples are grafted on one stem. Seedling maples are spliced and tied together when grow- ing ; after they have formed an union the desired shoot is cut off ; this is kept up until ten or twenty varieties are ob- tained. Maples thus grafted form lovely features for lawns, their varying hues and types of foliage enhancing each other’s beauty. Now a few words regarding our miniature gardening. The xsthetic idea shows itself in every line of Japanese industries, aud especially is it the case with our nursery and landscape garden- ers. The most inexperienced need not fear any difficulty in our mode of gardening if he but uses his mind and efforts in the right direction. The skillful artist introduces into his minia- ture garden, not regular geometrical forms, but anything odd, irregular and artistic. To us gardening is not mathe- matic, but an art—hills, dales, rivulets, waterfalls, bridges, etc., vie with each other in presenting their quaintest forms and fancies and harmonious symme- tries. Dwarfed plants of all descrip- tions deck the scene here and there in thousands of peculiarly artistic shapes. We derive many lessons from Nature, and endeavor to imitate her as much as is practicable, although on a smaller scale. It isin the person of a Japan- ese gardener that Dame Nature finds her most ardent lover ; his is the ambi- tion to make his country a place for men like Arnold to flee to when seeking a studio to the beauties of the “ Light of the World.” OUR AQUARIUM IN 1888. The space allotted to us for a display of live fish and aquatic plants at the Centennial Exposition at Cincinnati, was in an aisle between two high build- ing. This aisle received its light through a glass roof which connected the roofs of both buildings. The cen- tre of our space was directly opposite the entrance to the Floral Hall. The design, as the picture shows, was two rustic rock walls connected in the middle by a ditto arch. The material used in building was old stumps from ravines, plaster and paint. Of the two sections thus formed, the one to the left as we approach the display from Floral Hall, contained six large and one smaller tank. Three of these were aerated artificially ; the other to the right contained eight smaller and one large tank. The water in none of the tanks was ever changed, it being aerated with the exception of three tanks, through the action of the aquatic plants only. In the middle, below the arch, was a basin of water for marsh plants and amphibious animals. This basin extended all the way back to the brick wall of the building. As far as it was in view this wall was covered with a cor- rect picture of the Ohio river, near Leavenworth, Ind., painted on canvas. The perspective being about ten miles up the river showing the banks on the Kentucky side on the right and part of Leavenworth on the left. Farthest up we see one of the Blue river islands and the border of West Virginia. The frames of the tanks were of iron, with the fronts and ends of polished plate glass, while the rears were ribbed and the bottoms rough plate glass. Each tank was arranged differently to be in bearing with the habitate of its inmates. The Exposition opened July 4th, and closed Nov. 10th. During the hottest days, when the thermometer registered 110° F. in the buildings, the temperature of the water in our tanks was up to 102° F. and the fish and plants were in a flourishing condition and water as clear as crystal. THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. 95 THE MISTLETOE. The Mistletoe (Viscum album) be- longs to the natural order Loranthacez and Dicecia-tetrandia of Linneus. It is a true parasitical plant, as at no period of its existence does it derive any nour- ishment from the soil or from decayed bark, like the fungi and allied vegeta- tion. Of this genus there are several species ; this is the only one of special interest, and is what is generally known as the English Mistletoe. It is an ever- green, pendant shrub, usually found growing on fruit trees, but occasionally fixing itself on the thorn, oak, maple and ash ; very rarely on the pine. Thestem, when full grown, is an inch in diameter, is very much branched or subdivided, forming a head from two to five feet in diameter. The bark is smooth, of a yellowish green color. ‘The leaves are tongue-shaped, entire, in pairs on very short foot stalks. The flowers are male and female in different plants, axillary, and in short, close spikes. Neither the male nor female flowers have a corolla ; the stamens and pistils spring from the calyx. The fruit is a globular white berry covered with a viscous substance ; these berries appear in win- ter, and are in perfection about Christ- mas. The Mistletoe may be made to grow on the apple or other trees, where the climate is not colder than that of Eng- land, by cutting a notch in the bark on the under surface of a branch, and care- fully inserting the seed therein ; the only precaution being necessary is to place the seed in such a position that the , embryo shall be directed toward the trunk of the tree, and that the seed shall not be bruised. The growth of the Mistletoe is very slow, rarely more than two or three inches of the shoot, and two or three pairs of leaves being pro- duced in a season ; the durability of the plant is proportionately great, for when once established on a tree it is seldom known to cease growing until it has exhausted the vitality of the tree, caus- ing its death. Many old orchards in England have been completely de- stroyed by this beautiful parasite. The death of the trees is not, however, to be greatly regretted, as the Mistletoe brings a high price in the markets, more than the value of the tree. Hun- dreds of tons of it are sold annually for Christmas decoration ; it is now regu- larly imported into this country for the same purpose. The Mistletoe was a special object of worship with the an- cient Britons, and that many important rites were performed with it by the Druids or priests is certain. By them it was held sacred, and many virtues were attached to it. ‘hey sent round their attendant youths with this plant to announce the entrance of the New Year; and a somewhat similar custom is still continued in France. The popu- lar custom in England of kissing under a branch of Mistletoe during the Christ- mas festivities is referred to the sup- position on the part of some that it was the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden. Mr. Louden supposes this pleasant custom most likely came from our Saxon ancestors, and to have been commemorative of Balder, the son of Odin, who is one of the heroes of Ice- landic romance. According to the story, it was prophesied that Balder would die, to avert which fate his mother exacted a vow from all things on earth that they would not injure him. One of his enemies, knowing the Mistletoe had not taken the vow, as it did not grow upon the earth but on trees, made a dart of its wood, and with it killed the hero. 96 THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, 1894. We cheerfully answer at once all queries made in regard to Aquariums or Window Gardening if return postage is enclosed. If you know yourself to be in arrears with your subscription to THE AQua- RIUM, kindly remit. Two cents postage stamps are taken in payment. Mr. J. B.—The glass sides of an aqua- rium should never fit tight in the frame. On the size of yours, seventeen by twenty-eight inches, allow one-fourth inch on each end for expansion. In an iron frame of the above size the cement should be allowed to set for about two weeks before the water is put in. An aquarium must always be set on a per- fect level, so the pressure may be even on each point. In setting in a glass in an iron aquarium, plenty of cement should be used as a bed, to leave the glass as much as possible independent of the frame. Miss SERENA.—-Linden. The Japan- ese dwarf bamboo, Bamboosa metaca, is well adapted for house culture. If you wish to make a house plant out of it, you should take up a clump of roots in the spring and plant this in a small tub, a butter tub, for instance. Keep it in a partly shaded position out of doors and water it well during the summer. Before the first frost sets in it should be removed to the house. Mrs. A. A.—If the air in your sitting room is so dry that it becomes necessary sometimes to water your plants twice a day, you should set each flower pot into an other one, two sizes larger,and fill up the space between them with damp moss or sawdust. Or you may also put all the plants with their pots into a window box, filling in the space between the pots as above directed. Miss L. K.—The most satisfactory flowering house plant that we know of is the Begonia semperflorens rubrum. The foliage of this plant is brilliant green and shiny and the shape and habit of the plant pleasing to the eye. You can count on its being in bloom ten months out of twelve. The crimson colored flowers appear with each new sprout and often the plant has as many flowers as it has leaves. Its season of rest is during the hot summer months. ——__.__ A sheet of water, no matter of what size, that can be emptied or filled at will, is called a pond; while one not under control in this respect is called, according to its size, a pool or lake. A keeper at the London Zoological Gardens was employed on account of his supposed fondness for animals. He was soon found to be disliked by the animals, who exhibited their aversion in many ways. It was suspected that while outwardly treating them with kindness he must secretly hurt or annoy them. He denied having done any- thing of the sort, and his general man- ner seemed to bear out his protesta- tions. A watch was set upon him, with a curious result. It appeared that he never spoke to the animals, and for that reason alone his presence was in- tolerable to them. es Back numbers of THE AQUARIUM are twenty-five cents each. For sale at this office.