Book Description

Excerpt from Goldfish Varieties and Tropical Aquarium Fishes: A Complete Guide to Aquaria and Related Subjects There is perhaps no other means of bringing so complete a bit of Nature into our very homes as that afforded by the aquarium. Here we have opportunity for the student, the artist, the scientist and for those who simply love pets. Modern research, by the discovery of a few simple principles, has enabled us to absolutely reproduce the conditions of aquatic Nature, so that now we may have, at first hand, an intimate knowledge of much of that mysterious life of the water-world. Through the glass of the aquarium we have a window where that which we see is only limited by our own capacity for observation. Although interest in aquaria has undergone a great awakening in the past few years, the public in general is still ignorant of the correct principles of aquarium management, and of the wonderful accomplishments of the breeders of fancy fishes. In addition to the extraordinary goldfish forms there are now available for our purposes over 300 other kinds of aquarium fishes. These, with other aquatic animals and a wide range of plants give us a great wealth of material from which to choose. It is the aim of the author and the publishers to present in simple yet comprehensive form a practical digest of all available information on the subject. This, it is hoped, will be of real value to the intelligent aquarist and at the same time give the general public a clearer idea of possibilities under proper management, so that an aquarium will no longer be merely something which must be perpetually re-stocked with fishes, but an endless source of pleasant and profitable observation. The illustrations used are, in nearly all cases, either drawn or photographed from life, thus establishing records which should be of value for present or future reference. In the preparation of this volume the author has received valued assistance from leading specialists, breeders and general experts including the distinguished head of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, Dr. Hugh M.Smith. Special acknowledgment for generous co-operation is tendered Dr. E. Bade, Mr. Franklin Barrett, Dr. Herman Burgin, Mr, Wm. H. De Nyse, Mr. Richard Dorn, Mr. Henry W. Fowler, Mr. Joseph Froelich, Mr. Frank J. Myers, Mr. Wm. L. Paullin, Mr. W. A. Poyser, Mr. Fred. Schaefer, Dr. C. H. Townsend and Mr. Charles E. Visel. Mr. W. L. Brind should receive credit for his assistance in the preparation of the list of Exotic Fishes, his knowledge and specialized technique as a translator proving of particular value. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.