The Aquarium 3/30 1894

\jL/J division 0?

Vol. III.

fXCJitS

JANUARY,

I

1894.

No. 30.

A QUARTERLY

MAGAZINE FOR THE

ACCLIMATIZATION OF

Animals and

Plants.

50 cents a year.

Single copies, 15 cents each.

HUGO MULERTT, BROOKLYN, Copyright.

Entered at the

N. Y.

All Rights Reserved.

Post-Oflfice at Brooklyn, N. Y., as second-class mail matter.

HEADQUARTERS FOR THE FINER VARIETIES OF

Gold Fish, JapanesG Fantails, AND

ALL KIND5 OF AQUATIC PLANTS. For

Descriptive, Illustrated Catalogue, send two cents,

EDWARD

ADDRESS,

SCHMID,

S. AQUARIUM DEPOT,

WflSHlNBTDH,

No. 712 Twelftn street, N. W.,

P. C.

NICHOLAS WAPLER, IMPORTEIi OF

China and Glassware, EARTHENWARE AND LAVA GOODS,

French Crystal Grlass Shades.

Manufacturer of Round, Oval and Square Glass Shades,

Fish

Globes, Aquaria, Glass Jars and Floating Animals.

NEW

I 50 BARCLAY STREET, ESTABLISHED

WATER

YORK.

1876.

LILIES

OF ALL COLORS.

Aquatic Plants in Greatest Variety.

The

finest

Parks and Gardens in America have been supplied from our Catalogue with prices and full instructions for culture

unrivaled collection. sent free.

Edmund

D.

Sturtevant,

BORDENTOWN, NEW JERSEY. Electrotypes of Fish, Aquatic Plants, Etc., For Sale.

ENGRAVINGS MADE TO ORDER,

AT REASON-ABLE RATES.

Adtlress,

THE AQUARIUM.

Vol.

JANUAKY,

III.

Copyright

1893.

DENOMINATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF FRESH WATER

;

one IV.

of

CyijrinidcB {continued).

The body

Le Carassin. is

that

covered with

The head

large

is

short and

of this fish

much

like

American pumpkin-seed is

medium

of

our

sunfish,

and

and blunt, the

lips sil-

The color along the back is brown, with a golden hue or dark green the sides are golden, and the abdomen, if the back is green, silvery, 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 appearThe flesh is very ance of the fish. agreeable to the palate, but unfortunately the fish never grows to any size, not exceeding two pounds in weight.

The spawning season occurs at the very.

;

;

in

a dangerous

is

ponds

in

company hybrids

no value are produced, which only

confusion, do not benefit the and are readily mistaken for the The hybrid possesses but real carp. two barbies, short and blunt, which fact is about the only one by which

they

may

be distinguished.

THE GOLDEN CRUSSIAN CARP.

sized scales.

not supplied with barbies, the eyes either

put

stock,

Carrasius vulgaris)

Die Karausclie. compressed,

to

species

create

THE CRUSSIAN CARP. (

The

with carp, for the reason that

FISHES.

30.

same period as the carp's and follows the same plan the eggs, too, are adhesive.

FISHES.

THE CARP-LIKE

No.

1894.

All Rights Reserved.

Carassius aureus.

Carassin Die Gold Karausclie.

d'or.

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-

aquarium they become accustomed to without any trouble, at the same time

them which

ting

particularly for the

constituting

a

beautiful

acquisition.

They commence spawning as early as one year of age. At two or three years old

the golden crussian

color,

changes

its

becoming a bright and beautiful

scarlet.

.

THE AQUAEIUM, JANUARY,

82

THE COMMON GOLDFISH.

1894.

The body

Carassius auratus.

Poisson rouge.

of the fish

elongated and

is

covered with a coat of uni-

entirely

years cultivated in ponds and aquariums

formly sized scales. The head is short, the lips well developed and without barbies.

The color is generally an orange yellow with a golden hue, and

for the sake of ornamentation,

sometimes marked with black

Der

Goldfiscli

This prime old favorite, for so many

doxically

as

known, yet

it

little

may

widely

understood.

where

a native of China,

It is

para-

is,

appear,

is

it

extensively cultivated, and the crossing of the different species scientific

is

They

study.

made

there are

a

kept as

domestic pets, and under patient training learn to come to the sound of a whistle,

receive food.

to

beautiful varieties

come from

The most a lake

in

The first the province of Che-Kyang. introduction of the goldfish into Europe is variously dated ; the years 1611 A. D., 1091 A. D., and 1728 A. D., each having claims for that honor.

the ab-

;

domen may be either yellowish or white.

The name of the entire family, of had

course,

its

origin in the prevailing

The

golden color of the species.

dorsal

reaching from the middle of

fin is long,

the back, iiearly 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, givtail, if viewed from behind, the shape of a reversed letter " j."

ing the

The

fish

when

grown measure

full

eighteen inches in length by six inches in height,

and are known to

live to

age of one hundred years.

enjoy a

warm temperature

an

Goldfish

best, are very

hardy, and thrive under circumstances

many

that

would be

They

are thus particularly well adapted

fatal

to

others.

life in the aquarium, specimens having been successfully kept in good

for

The Common Goldfish.

The

first

health and condition for from ten to

seen in France were those

imported for

Madame de Pompadour, in XV. Soon after-

sixteen years.

The

goldfish

feeds

upon almost

all

the reign of Louis

kinds

wards they became tolerably common, as it was found that they throve well in the waters of southern Europe, especially in Portugal, where they sprung from a few small fish, said to have es-

worms,

spawn and young.

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 then some finely chopped raw beef or earth worms.

The method of reproduction and the season at which it occurs is identical

and

it is

from

this source that all

rope became stocked with them.

fish was brought to Amerand quickh"^ won its way into favor.

Europe the ica

Eu-

From

small

vegetable

of

etc., fish,

and even

matter,

prey upon devouring its own

will also

If

kept in an aqua-

rium, the best diet for them fish food,

insects,

is

prepared

wafers or crackers, with

with that of the carp

;

now

the eggs, like-

wise, are adhesive.

The

size

of

the

fish

whatever to do with

has nothing

the

ability

to

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY,

1894.

spawn, though a large fish will deposit more eggs than a small one. As an instance, goldfish, one inch in length, nine months old, sjiawned in an aqua-

out of five of

rium kept in a parlor all the eggs hatched and the young grew up. Goldfish can be made to spawn from March

of the rule.

two

are hatched out in

ception to the extent of forty per

centum

impugn the

validity

is

quite sufficient to

For some years past the author has experimented upon and investigated the subject, with the avowed determination of forever putting at rest all contro-

October.

The young

from

upon the question.

versy

to six days, the period of incubation

being determined by the temperature

breeding season,

of the water and the condition of the

period

Aveather.

arrive

at

The

process.

maturity

the

season

fish

hatching, and are then ready to repro-

fish

should be

those

The author

fish

a,

difficult matter,

vealed to the practiced eye of the pisci-

was formerly supposed, and

is

yet,

that the male was always that one hav-

ing a short dorsal

fin.

stated, such a specimen It

is

during the breeding season presents

The

the head.

goldfish it is

one

of

species

should

reappear

in

another.

The

selection of the

male having now

been made, the next step

is to procure 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-

the best female.

ties

of

It is

goldfish,

hereafter to be de-

scribed.

When

hatched, the young

further subjected their surroundings

the water, I

exercising

its

to ;

fish

the temperature of

depth, quality, etc.,

more or

are

modification by

less infiuence.

all

The

complete result of the breeding, so far is concerned, cannot be

as the coloring

culturist.

It

this

will

not unnatural that a trait or peculiarity

is

re-

fins.

being a species of the Carp family,

The

and can only be

observ-

substantiated in

is

fo]' it

tubercles on

selected

This indeed

is

be remembered in the description of the Carp, that that statement,

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.

difference

ray of the pectoral

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 this color 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 parent

the only

is

male can invariably be distinguished by the presence of small white tubercles on the gill covers and the first

after

hinges the character of the result.

when any

During the

that

as

able, the

Direct sunlight has the effect

of hastening the

short dorsal fin fish

th'ese

are males, but the existence of an ex-

;

till

83

As previously is

a deformity.

true, however, that about

three

seen until the change has taken place,

and then

made

any errors that have been

are at once apparent.

Those fish that have failed to receive any coloring are then called silver-fish ;

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY,

84

JAPANESE GOLDFISHES.*

should they have turned milky white

common are known

(albinos), which, however, the

goldfish

seldom does, they

1894.

Carassius jajjonicus. ) ( Japanische Goldfische.

as pearl-fish.

The young, when kejit in warm ponds, may grow six inches long in four months as a general thing the ;

length reached in that time

two and a half

is

from

The Japanese

oftener

in

this

specify the goldfish

by

the shape of the body and that of the fins,

the coloring in most species being

The

the same.

to three inches.

Deformities occur

Poisson d'Orienf^

prevailing colors are

and white,

vermilion, gold

indeed

if

family of fishes than in any other, and this would also seem to help disprove

the last can be called a color. classification

being

the correctness of the theory that the

rather complicated, the species'

names

male has a short dorsal

minus a

fin.

Specimens

or even caudal fin

dorsal, anal

is

rare to see one

destitute of scales, or

minus an eye or

are frequent, but

it

with a lobsided mouth. It may also be mentioned, that should a few scales be

The Japanese

omitted for convenience sake,

will be

and the

described in the

fish

manner same

others have been, though at the

time retaining the foreign nomenclature.

THE TELESCOPE.

accidentally knocked off of a goldfish,

This

nature will soon replace them.

The old-fashioned

goldfish

has, for

the last fifty years, perhaps, become wild in the

United

States.

Having accident-

open waters, it soon made itself at home, becoming thoroughly acclimated, and in consequence has been quoted by several authors as a ally escaped into

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 origicultivation of the goldfish has

lately received a

new impulse through

the efforts of the late Admiral Daniel

Ammen,

of

of the

choicest varieties,

which

have since been reproduced with success.

To these were added others by importers on the Pacific coast and the author, who first imported the Telescope fish.

very

spherical

is

like that of a frog-tadpole,

covered,

as

all

medium-sized ly absent

;

The

scales. ;

and with

goldfishes are,

delicate in structure

fins are

very

the anal fin most-

the caudal fin

is

double, verj

and dee^^ly divided. The eyes are large and project forward, having the large

appearance of a small telescope adjusted to the eye (see illustration); from this the fish received the

To make

name

it

bears.

the eyes more prominent the

Jajianese culturist resorts to an ingeni-

He

places the

in small, dark-glass vessels

young

fish

shaped for

the purpose, and which obliges the fish to look constantly in but

The

the United States Navy.

This gentleman, about sixteen years ago, brought from Japan a number of speci-

mens

much

indeed an odd looking

is

The body

ous device.

nal standard.

The

fish

affair.

color of the fish

one direction.

may

be either

vermilion, white or jet black or part of

markings in that case being The body of the fish is

either, the

very beautiful. all

out of proj^ortion to the size of the

fins,

and

in

consequence propulsion

is

a

difficult matter.

*The Goldfish and

its

Systematic Culture.— Mulertt.

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, In spawning, the male rolls the female about among the stones in a most pitiful manner, sometimes for days together this is an effort of the male to ;

assist

the

in

extrusion of the eggs.

When

spawned the eggs attach themselves to the stones and other substantial objects

probably

amongst the

is

it

stones that the extrusion takes place.

When

the young are

first

hatched,

they appear exactly like the

common

goldfish.

For this reason, which and because the fish

They

l)lants or other

rest

upon the water-

supports for a couple of

is

one,

cult to propagate,

it is

is

the main

very

about the

size of a

diffi-

exceedingly rare,

even in Japan.

When mature, the telescope

man's

fish

is

fist.

THE FRINGE -TAIL.

rather than to water-plants,

because

85

1804.

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 curtain in the anterior portion of the eye that,

by

its

contraction and dilation,'

The Telescope.

days, at the end of which time the yolk-

regulates

then commences the The double tail, struggle for existence. which is even then large enough to be

enters the optic.

bag

is

absorbed

;

of the

the

may

iris

quantity of light that

In this

fish

the color

be any color, excepting

distinguished, hinders the tiny creatures

green only, in different individuals.

The fins are large and of very fine

(but one-quarter of an inch in length)

structure

in

their

movements

Should they find

in

the

water.

sufficient food to

make

n bountiful meal, matters become still worse; they lose their balance and can

not go at

all

pleted, in the

until digestion

coman easy

is

meanwhile falling to numerous enemies.

and welcome prey

;

the caudal

the anal

may

fin is

or quadruple, as the case

larger than

double, while

be either double, treble

may be, and

is

the body, drooping very

(See illustration on page 24.)

These special characteristics, among all

gracefully.

the fancy varieties, are not fully developed until the second year. In the color-

86

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY,

ing of the body aud

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,

eyes of rich gold, while

all

throat

the fins are

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 ;

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

an adequate idea by examining a large number. Strange

one can only as

it

may

get

seem, this beautiful species

was nearly lost to this country through the caprice of private individuals who happened, or rather were lucky enough, to possess perfect specimens, and were unwilling that others should of fish

enjoy the possession of the like.

But fortunately, a lady both generous

and appreciative, rather than that the should die out, loaned to the author for the purpose of reproduction several fine specimens she had recently

stock

obtained through the courtesy of Admiral

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

What

fish,

being so

difficult.

THE FANTAIL. The body

is

elongated and compressed

the the head pointed and stout, the anal sometimes double, and occasionally found wanting. The caudal fin is comparatively short, is double, with the upper edges grown together it is sometimes

on the

sides

;

;

fins are short

;

erect like that of the (see illustration),

fantail

pigeon

projects horizon-

or

The colors are mostly vermilion in some cases the whole and white body is white, with the exception of the abdomen, this being golden in others the body is dark red, the belly also tally.

;

;

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 This fact is undoubtedly one water. to be appreciated by those keeping an

aquarium.

THE COMET. This

is

a noble

looking

and

fish,

greatly resembles the fantail.

Its body is slender, the fins very large and of fine structure the caudal fin is The colorsingle and deeply divided. ;

ing

is

identical with the preceding. (See

illustration

on page 44.)

THE NYMPH.

diffi-

may with

of white beautifully dotted with crim-

fish in gold.

has been said about the

culty of raising telescope

the former,

Unlike

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 vermilion, sometimes white a background

that private

parties paid for fine specimens twenty

times the weight of the

fringe-tail.

the latter fish spawns against aquatic plants, the extrusion of the eggs not

and

milk white.

eyes being blue

the

1894.

almost equal proj^riety be repeated for

;

;

son, the throat golden,

makes a magnifi-

THE AQUARIUM, JAI^UARY, cent combination that al

is

very ornament-

1894.

87

THE HOODED GOLDFISH.

indeed.

The

sub-varieties

of

this

are

the

Ramsnose and the Hognose.

This species the Jajoanese introduced from Corea.

In general shape and color

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

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.

this peculiarity

THE HOGNOSE The

tainly

peculiarity of this fish

reverse,

is

just the

concaved, greatly resembling

the head of a fat hog. size,

seldom

at-

taining a length of more than eight inches.

is

" Carrier," a type

of

We is

do not say that beautiful, but it cer-

very curious.

In the Japanese

display at the World's Fair at Chicago

we noticed two si^ecimens

of this tyjDC

The Coreans call them '• Ranchoo," and in Tokyo they are known by the name of "Maof

All of the goldfish described above do

not attain a very great

of the head of the

fancy pigeons.

goldfish

ruko."

in

alcohol.

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY,

88

The

Another

T^qukriutvy.

A Quarterly

1804. of the

same

cts.

a Tear.

Single Copies, 15

cts.

Each.

veloped,

Sample Copies Tree.

The under

fish,

when

Advertising Rates on Application.

part

173 Nostrand Av.,

ably broad,

is

silvered like the pre-

is

scales being deli-

cately edged with a metallic gold color.

Brooklyn, N. Y.

THE SMALL BLUE.

CHINESE GOLDFISHES.

This, like the others, (

Cnrassius orientaUs) Poisso7i cV Orient. species of goldfish differ

more from each other in color than in the shape of the body and fins, the contrary being the dominant characteristic

THE MOOR, OR DARKEY, another distinct variety, and

is

So startling are these colors that one is almost immediately reminded of the story in the " Arabian Nights' Entertainments " of the enchanted lake, the fish in which were of four colors, yellow, blue, red and white, and were people of four races, who had in some way

fish.

neath.

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 like the markings of a pie-bald horse.

THE RUBY^

THE MOTTLED BEAUTY

gills.

Along the ridge

of the back,

Nin-euhk-Yu.

This j

is

a fish of exquisite beauty, be-

ing of a delicate semi-opaque, violet crimson, gradually shading

pale

A peculiarly fine variety of this sjjecies

THE RED the body of which

while the head,

pearance of

to

is

comes very

and has the rich apa piece of Lyons velvet.

off

rose underneath.

especially near the tail, the black beintense,

under-

PIE-BALD.

Species

Beneath, the fish is simj^ly 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

violet

Species Ouen-Yii.

variety

very remarkable.

the

becomes

a large

All of the scales are edged with

THE

called

is

which

is

very nearly

a red-toned bronze.

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.

King-Yu, the

The back and sides are

black,

incurred the displeasure of a genius,

species

also silvery

luster.

of the Japanese species, described above.

Of the

is

on the abdomen, but which, however, The is delicately flushed with pale rose. whole of the sides and back are of a rich azure, which shines with a metallic

Chinesische Goldfische.

The Chinese

remark-

is

splendidly varied with

and black, the

scarlet

Publisher,

fully de-

nearly fifteen inches long.

is

ceding, but the back, which

HUGO MULERTT,

is

THE SUPERB.

Magazine.

This magnificent 50

species

tense scarlet.

tail

is

FIN, a delicate azure,

and

fins are

an

in-

)

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY.

THE TUMBLER. Species Kin-teo7i- Yu.

This

a remarkable

is

and

and one

fish,

bent upward, giving to the the form of a crescent.

/

3.

When swimming

it

has the habit of

throwing itself over and over in the same manner that tumbler pigeons do

when

The

flying.

color of the fish

is

a

magnificent blue flushed with orange, making a gorgeous disjjlay.

THE ELEGANT. This

Yu,

is

or

a variety of the species Ouen-

"lettered

named

kind," so

oV

No. 1 is a plant previous to gerniination or budding. Nos. 2, 3, and 4 are different stages of that process. No. 5 represents a young plant just freed from the parent one.

No. 6 from is an enface figure, showing the pit which the young one has escaped. No. 7 is These are a profile figare of the same thing. mere enlarged outline drawings, the whole plant consisting of a collection of

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

Another variety

tail.

of the sj)ecies

is

D.,

Philadelphia, Pa.

THE LOBSTER. NEW POINTS ABOUT THE LIFE OF THIS TOOTHSOME CRUSTACEAN.

SOME

is

a large

cells.

W. Bringhurst, M.

rich scarlet, shading off to black on the

back, in the midst of which

^,

@M

tail are

entire fish

89

0006'

The head

that seems quite distinct.

1894.

Fred. Mather, Superintendent of the

New York

verse bands like the Cross of Lorraine,

State Hatchery at Cold Spring Harbor, told the American Fisheries Society, at the World's Exposition

by which name the author thinks proper

at Chicago, in

cross of pure white having

to designate (

two trans-

it.

To he continued.

Philadelphia, Pa., October 15, 189o.

To the Editor of The Aquakium.

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

and is globular in shape.

They are propagated by germination or budPortulacca ding.

seed,

A slight

elevation of the surface

is

seen,

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 cellular spheres, that gets larger and larger, until in a

;

colored bright green with will try to present a

June

chlorophylle.

few drawings of them.

I

last,

what

is

known

In his remarks he said:

of the lobster.

" Within a few years much has been life history of our com-

learned of the

mon

lobster that

We knew

fore.

we did not know

be-

that the female carried

the eggs after extrusion, attached

in

masses to the so called swimmerets under the abdomen, which

is

improperly

called the "tail," atid that they hatched there. is

In

Bell's

'

British Crustacea

'

it

said that the mother cares for the

young after hatching and can recall them for protection. My own observations are that the young scatter and find protection in the rocks.

" ries

I

am

satisfied that

her eggs

all

the lobster car-

winter,

and that

all

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY,

90

1894.

those laid after the middle of July, in

quiries into life-history of the lobster and the

Long

fishes

same

Island Sound, will not hatch the year, but eggs taken late last year

chance to give some figures which may be of value. On August 11, 1893, 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

in

which you propagate.

sending you a

little

Very

the lobster.

making all

slight

We

development a month

how

I

Garman.

rejoiced to find

that Prof. Garman's studies confirmed

my own crude observations is beyond my is pleasant to have one's ideas confirmed by any one who has studied the subject more than he has but I

power. It

will quote Prof.

lobster of five

by

Then

a

pounds was a small one,

one-half of that weight

large,

is

and the numbers have decreased

in even

The only

things

greater proportion.

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,

the latter can be in-

if

creased as the former have been.

It is possible to

bring this neglected

br inch of fishculture to a point where

on the seaboard, at least, overshadow the other branches in which we it will,

have been engaged. " After making notes about lobsters carrying their eggs

July 15,

all

winter,

1 received

when

the follow-

ing letter from Prof. Samuel Garman,

Museum of Comparative

Zoology,

Cambridge, Mass., dated August 30, 1892:

s.

garman.

Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., December

)

17, 1891. f

The Hon. E. A. Brackett, Massachusetts State Fishery Commissioner.

Sir

:

Yours, with inquiries regarding the

conclusions reached in the study of the lobster,

While unavoidable delay in the hand drawings prevents placing the complete matter in your hands, it is quite possible to give you in a few words a general idea of the results 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 development, and they were then preserved by various methods for future studies and comparisons.

After their young were hatched the females themselves were dissected, to observe the condition of their ovaries, and to deis at

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 hatching, and then to take others to complete the termine the time

series

laid after

Carman's paper entire:

REPORT ON THE LOBSTER.

later.

the country forty years ago.

of the

just

on

could not keep these

held in comparison to the population of

'^

" To say

winter, and they showed only

" No work that has occupied the attention of fishculturists compares with what may be done in replacing the lobster industry on the footing which it

now

S. •

my own

;

in all 822,000 eggs or 18,266

per lobster. eggs

take pleasure

truly,

afford a

thirty-three lobsters ninety-four ounces,

I

report of

from the laying.

Eggs supplied

me

as

freshly laid were so far advanced as to indicate that fertilization

had taken place before

they were placed under the tail of the lobster bearing them. The time and process of fertilization

has not been discovered

;

but in

all

likelihood the marine lobster docs not differ

Mr. Fred. Mather Dear

Sir

:

ports and to

I

am

know

greatly in these respects from

:

its fresh water In the case of the the male seeks the female some time be-

very glad to get your

re-

relatives, the cray-fishes.

you are pushing

in-

latter

that

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY, and deposits the

fore the eggs are laid,

fertil-

1894.

91

periods of two or three weeks, probably four-

izing matter on the upper side of the body,

fifths of either is finished in less

near the external openings of the oviducts, where it adheres for a time as a whitish mass.

How the fertilizing elements, the spermatozoa,

night

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 retarded, until the changes were very slight in-

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 equall}" 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 deed.

;

eggs again for a year

summer next

;

that

is,

In other words, the

once in two years, hatching a brood one summer and laying eggs the next following summer 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

was not possible

of specimens kept,

may

it

to fix the lengths of either

the laying or hatching periods. ever,

sary to considerably extend the general periods.

From

This,

how-

be approximately done in connec-

tion with observations

made by

States Fish Commission.

It

the United

must be borne

still

more contracted.

Variation must also be expected in different

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

years, as the seasons are earlier or later,

as follows

(1)

:

two

lays eggs but once in

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 seasonsand places, the period extending from about the middle of June till about the 1st of September, and C3) 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 respectfully yours,

S.

This represents

Garmaiv.

that

all

is

known

of the life history of the lobster to-day.

Our

}3lants

and

from the eggs taken Jtily on July 12 18

were made

1893,

8,

and was probably the

20,

the eggs laid the

summer

last of

before.

I

do

not believe that " the lobster lays eggs all the year round," as has been said.

The animal

leaves

the

"

crawls "

in

and seeks a depth where temperature is higher, and the

cold weather

the lobstermen shift their pots in accordance 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-

The

ture with proper facilities.

lob-

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

we may The female lob.ster

that has been gathered

all

summarize

not before the

dissections proved that the lobster lays only

than a fort-

for the early years

and for the late ones, and to include the early and the belated individuals, it becomes neces-

following that in which they

had hatched a brood.

make allowance

to

;

ster it

is

has

easier to catch less sense,

ster pot

found

The

with

its

than a rabbit, for

and when

its bait, it

haven of

rest,

decrease of the

it

sees a lob-

seems to have

and

it

has.

number

of lob-

from Newfoundland to New Jersey has been accompanied by a decrease in size and a corresponding increase in

sters

THE AQUAKIUM, JANUARY,

93

In proof of this

Can-

report of 1888 showed a de-

patience and conform to the pojjular

I

quote from the Scientific Amej'ican: ''The depletion of the lobster fisheries

will

has been especially noticeable in

The

grow a seedling or a cutting

in the time the better your chances of success while the Japanese nurseryman must exercise unlimited

price per ^Dound.

ada.

1894.

shortest possible

;

crease in the value of exports of $350,-

arts of his country.

000 as compared with the previous year, although there had been an advance in

vided into two great sections, one for the

The

price of 35 per cent.

value of the

Canadian lobster fishery in 1888 was 13,638,394;

$1,483,388; in 1886,

in

1885, 13,613,731."

Could these

Up

figures

speak

plainer

than

?

to

planted

June

11, this year,

85,350

young

we have and

lobsters,

have on hand 510,000 eggs. We cannot 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 devour them. 1 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 succeed.

They

are i^ersistent

cannibals,

and must be put out at a few days old on rocky bottom, where there are always hiding places for a soft lobster to remain until his skin hardens into a new and larger shell.

DWARFING PLANTS

IN JAPAN.

A

paper read by Henry Izawa of Japan, at the Xurserymen's Session at the World's Congress, Chicago, 1893,

The Japanese nursery

trade

is

di-

which 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 cultivation of plants for export, are

shrubs and herbaceous plants that are little if at all

The

known

and well

tensive

are yearly

]Dlants

foreign trade, and

in this country.

Japan are very

nurseries of

kept

grown I

am

millions

;

exof

home and

for

pleased to note

the exjDort trade in Japanese nursery stock

is

yearly increasing in very great

proportions.

The art of dwarfing known in other lands scription

plants

of its process

A

place here

is

so little

that a short deis

few examples

not out of will suffice

you a general idea. The successful Japanese nurseryman must not only be a good grower, but he must also be an artist, conversant Avith the general arts and customs of his country, which differ very materially with those of any other country.

to give

The

pines

may

be

considered the

nurseries as different as are the latitudes

most important of all trees in Japan, and great care is taken of their cultivation and jDreservation. The most popular ones are Pinus densiflora, Pinus parsiflora and Pinus Thunbergii. They are generally grown from seed, and

of both countries. In America the

great care

The customs and circumstances connected with every-day life in your great country, the traditions and customs of ours,

makes the Japanese and American

mad-

dening rush of commercial seas, navigated by the unsatisfiable children of the

world,

turns on

all

demands the quickest outlavs

;

re-

the taller vou can

qualities.

taken to select the choicest In the Spring of the second

is

year, Avhen the seedlings are about eight

inches in height, tliey are staked with

bamboo canes and

tied with rice straw.

;

THE AQUAEIUM, JANUARY, the plants being bent in different desir-

The next

fall

they are

transplanted to a richer

soil

and well

able

shapes.

fertilized.

plants

branches, leaving the

off all

trunk and top branch take a onequarter inch chisel and hammer it into ;

the thickest portion of the trunk, hol-

restaked and twisted and

low out a one-inch deep hole to every

This mode of

two or three -inch space, so that the trunk can be bent more easil}^ in the

tied in fanciful forms.

given until the seventh

is

when the

year,

93

In the following Spring the

are

treatment

spring cut

1894.

trees will have

assumed

desired direction

;

rice straw

is

twisted

being trained in graceful forms and the

round the trunk, which is bent in many curious forms and fanciful shapes.

In

foliage like small clouds of dense green.

spring time of the second year of this

proportions, the branches

large

fairly

now taken up and

The

plants are

ted

in pots one

diameter, and are kept well watered.

treatment the plants are potted in rich soil ; in another two years, when the plants have assumed permanent forms.

and one-half

pot-

feet in

Every succeeding year great care must

Thuya obtusa

be taken of new shoots, which must be kept pinched back.

After another

Lobbi stem.

three years of this treatment the trees

follows

are virtually

dwarfed, there being no

The dwarfing

of

the

then grafted on the

process of grafting :

Apply plenty

Thuya Lobbi

plant

is

in brief as

of fertilizer to in early spring

;

take some two-inch shoots of

growth thereafter.

visible

The

is

bamboo

is

another

branch

Thuya

obtusa, cut the end in a slanting plane,

and

insert in the smaller portions of the

of the Japanese 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

and leave the temperature of the room 60 degrees for two weeks and at 70 deleaves will soon grees for two weeks grow from the grafted twigs. In the

potted in sand

latter part of spring,

imj)ortant

nursery business.

;

not to use any

;

care should be taken

fertilizer,

water

should be given.

large

shoots

but plenty of

every year,

Cut

off

in

May

the 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. Let a Thuya Lobbi seedling grow on fertile soil for three years, or until it becomes about five feet in length

;

then in the middle of

Thuya Lobbi trunk, one inch on the trunk

graft to every

wrap the grafts

;

with rice straw and take the plants to a shady, windless room, with the temperature 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,

;

when

the temper-

ature in and out of doors becomes uni-

form, the plants can be safely transferred to

some shady position out of

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 doors.

handsome specimens of dwarfed Thuyas.

All kinds of conifers are treated in a similar manner.

There are

also a great

THE AQUAEIUM, JANUARY,

94

demand

mixed grafted

for curiosities in

conifers— that is, six or seven kinds of conifers on one plant.

Maples form one of the best materials for the artistic fancies of the JapanOften a great manyese craftsman. different varieties of maples are grafted

Seedling maples are on one stem. spliced and tied together when growafter they have formed an union ing

1894.

OUR AQUARIUM The

IN

1888.

space allotted to us for a display

of live fish

and aquatic

j^lants

at the

Centennial Exposition at Cincinnati, was in an aisle between two high build-

This aisle received its light ing. through a glass roof Avhich connected the roofs of both buildings. The centre of our space was directly opposite

waterfalls, bridges, etc., vie with each

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 Of the two ravines, plaster and paint. sections thus formed, the one to the left as we approach the display from Floral Hall, contained six large and one Three of these were smaller tank. the other to the aerated artificially right contained eight smaller and one The water in none of the large tank. tanks was ever changed, it being aerated with the exception of three tanks, through the action of the aquatic plants In the middle, below the arch, only. 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 correct 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

other in presenting their quaintest forms

Kentucky

;

the desired shoot

is

cut

off

;

this

is

kept

twenty varieties are obMaples thus grafted form lovely features for lawns, their varying hues and types of foliage enhancing each

up

until ten or

tained.

other's beauty.

Now a few words regarding our miniature gardening. The a?sthetic idea shows itself in every line of Japanese and especially is it the case with our nursery and landscape gardenThe most inex^oerienced need not ers. fear any difficulty in our mode of gardening if he but uses his mind and industries,

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

matic, but an art

—

is

not mathe-

hills, dales, rivulets,

and fancies and harmonious symmeDwarfed plants of all descriptries. tions deck the scene here and there in thousands of peculiarly

We

derive

many

and endeavor

artistic shapes.

lessons

to imitate

practicable, although

from Nature,

her as

much

as

on a smaller scale.

It is in the person of a Japanese gardener that Dame Nature finds her most ardent lover his is the ambition to make his country a place for men like Arnold to flee to when seeking a studio to the beauties of the " Light is

;

of the World."

;

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 During 4th, and closed Nov. 10th. the hottest days, when the thermometer registered 110° F. in the buildings, the temperature of the water in our tanks was up to 103° F. and the fish and plants were in a flourishing condition and water as clear as crystal.

THE AQUAEIUM, JANUARY, THE MISTLETOE. The

1894.

95

duced in a season the durability of the ;

Mistletoe (Viscum album) be-

plant

is

proportionately great, for

longs to the natural order Loranthaceaj

once established on a tree

and DicBcia-tetrandia

known

of Linna?us.

It is

a true parasitical plant, as at no period of

its

existence does

ishment from the

it

soil

derive any nouror

from decayed

bark, like the fungi and allied vegetation.

species

Of ;

interest,

this

is

genus there are several the only one of special

and

is

what

this

is

generally

known

an evergreen, pendant shrub, usually found growing on fruit trees, but occasionally fixing itself on the thorn, oak, maple and ash very rarely on the pine. The stem, 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, Neither and in short, close spikes. 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 winter, and are in perfection about Christas the English Mistletoe.

It is

it

is

when

seldom

to cease growing until it has exhausted the vitality of the tree, caus-

ing

death.

its

England have stroyed

b}' this

Many

old orchards in

been

completely

beautiful parasite.

death of the trees

de-

The

not, however, to

is

be greatly regretted, as the Mistletoe brings a high

in the markets,

price

more than the value dreds of tons of

it

of the tree.

Hun-

are sold annually for

Christmas decoration it is now reguimported into this country for the same purpose. The Mistletoe was a ;

larly

;

;

special object of worship with the an-

cient Britons, and that

many

imj^ortant

were performed with it by the Druids or priests is certain. By them it was held sacred, and many virtues were attached to it. I'hey sent round their attendant youths with this plant to anQounce the entrance of the New Year and a somewhat similar custom is still continued in France. The j^opular custom in England of kissing under a branch of Mistletoe during the Christ-

rites

;

mas

festivities

is

referred to the sup-

position on the part of

some that

it

was

;

the

forbidden tree in the garden of

Mr.

Louden

supposes

mas.

Eden.

The Mistletoe may be made to grow on the apple or other trees, where the climate is not colder than that of England, by cutting a notch in the bark on the under surface of a branch, and care-

pleasant custom most likely

fully inserting the seed therein

precaution being necessary

is

;

the only to place

the seed in such a position that the

embryo

shall

be directed toward the

and that the seed 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 protrunk of the

tree,

shall not be bruised.

this

came from

our Saxon ancestors, and to have been

commemorative

of Balder, the son of one of the heroes of IceAccording to the romance.

who

Odin, landic

is

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

story,

with

it

killed the hero.

THE AQUARIUM, JANUARY,

96

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.

Queries.

We

cheerfully

made

queries or is

answer

at

Window Gardening

if

once

all

Aquariums

in regard to

return postage

enclosed.

Mr.

Miss L. K.

J. B.

— The glass sides of an aquafit

On

yours,

the size

of

tight in the frame.

seventeen by

— The

most satisfactory

flowering house plant is

that

we know

of

the Begonia semperflorens rubrum.

The

you know yourself to be in arrears with your subscription to The Aquarium, kindly remit. Two cents postage stamps are taken in payment.

If

rium should never

1894.

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

being in bloom

its

The crimson new plant has as many

ten months out of twelve.

colored flowers appear with each

sprout and often the

Its season of it has leaves. during the hot summer months.

flowers as rest is

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

about two put in. An

to set for

weeks before the water is aquarium must always be

on a perfect 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 set

of the frame.

—

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. in a partly

doors and

summer. it

Keep

shaded position out of it well during the

water

Before the

first

frost sets in

should be removed to the house.

—

your sitting becomes necessary sometimes to water your plants twice a Mrs. A. A.

room

is

so

sheet of water, no matter of what that can be

will,

is

under control in according to

A

If the air in

dry that

it

emptied or

pond

called a

;

this respect

its size,

filled

at

while one not is

called,

a pool or lake.

keeper at the London Zoological

Gardens was employed on account of He his supposed fondness for animals. was soon found to be disliked by the animals,

Miss Serena. Linden. The Japanese dwarf bamboo, Baniboosa nietaca,

it

A size,

many

who

exhibited their aversion in

It was suspected that outwardly treating them with kindness he must secretly hurt or annoy them. He denied having done any-

ways.

while

thing of the

sort,

and

his general

man-

ner seemed to bear out his protestations.

A

watch was

a curious result.

It

never spoke to the

upon him, with appeared that he

set

animals, and for

that reason alone his presence was intolerable to them.

Back numbers

of

The Aquarium

are twenty- five cents each. this office.

For

sale at