I have been delighted by the grace and patterns of long fin koi for many years. They are beautiful fish. And I believe it is the right of a pond owner to enjoy any combination of water creatures that most lins the spirit and calms the soul. So when I point out as I must, that the long fin has no place in a koi show. I'm not knocking the variety. I'm simply pointing out that the basic criteria used to judge the merits of nishikigoi and doitsu, cannot be fairly applied to long fin. It seems to me that this criteria has been applied in the past to eliminate other varieties of fish which their enthusiasts wanted in the arena with classic koi. Perhaps that will be the fate of the long fin. Perhaps not. I am not here to advocate a position, simply to lay the issues before you.
There are several types ofmcarp already out of the judging, including one in Japan. On mainland Asia, the grass carp is a useful fish, which we have imported into the limited States and use as a gardener for the weedchoked channels of the Southeast. There are several other varieties of carp in the Middle east and Europe whose only show is at the dinner table.
One of those fish, a German variety; which brought the leathery scales now called doitsu to the scene, is notable. Christian missionaries brought a few to Japan at the turn of the century as food flsh. There they made esthetic contributions to emerging koi varieties and became, in time a part of thenhobby we enjoy.
This broadening of the show, category could, conceivably. include long fin some day. But before that can happen, some major differences between the attributes of long fin and show koi have to be addressed.
Angle Of View
Koi are judged from the top. One looks; down at the back of the fish to judge its pattern and color. A long fin is at a distinct disadvantage when viewed from the top. They are much more attractive from the side.
Conformation
The ideal shape of a koi has been set by tradition to
be generously oval. The proportions of head to body are
critical, using an ideal which unfairly denies the beauty of
the long fin. Long fin are naturally, more slender. Their bodies add to the flow of extended fins: to present a dance of veils to the eve as they swim. They are beautiful to watch but today's koi judge cannot find any place on the scorecard where this Balinese style of conformation earns
points.
The Relationship Of Fin To Body
What is a judge to do with a fish whose ratio of fin-to-body exceeds the standards applied to others in the
tank by 500 to 1000 percent. The problem is obvious and
will not be excused by a desire to have this longer fin
appreciated. On the scorecard out-of-ratio fins are a blemish. Any other position by a judge is unfair to those
who have devoted them-selves to classic varieties of koi.
Pattern Differences
While great energy has been given to developing long fin versions of classic koi pattens. there is something in the structure of the fish which distributes it in a different way. In close competition, these fine differences decide which fish becomes the choice of the judge. Either the long fin or the classic pattern must be deemed to be best. - There is no common standard fair to both.
The Practicalities Of Separate Categories
The obvious solution to this problem in many advocates' minds is to compete long fins separately.This seemingly simple answer creates its own thorny but necessary question - how separately?
We have many varieties of long fin today: kohaku, sanke, show, utsuri, ogon; even varieties which challenge classification. Without stretching the imagination in the sligh,test it is conceivable that 16 or more new categories, each with the usual subsets might have to be added to accommodate the long fin entered in a major show.
What's To Be Done?
My purpose in this commentary is to lay before the reader the problems faced by judges. I don't have an immediate solution to offer. That will come as the result
of a debate over time by hobbyists of good will in many countries.
Long fin must have a future. They are too beautiful to deny. The form the future takes requires time to decide, which puts off and frustrates: those who support the long fin I know . This impatience in turn adds emotion to the debate, which slows even furtherthe time to an intelligent accommodation. Those whose opinions are the strongest will have to be the most tolerant of the rest of us until we catch up.
We who want best for the hobby must examine the present standards with the goal of continuing the dynamics of change that koi keeping makes necessary. What our eyes tell us about the long fin must be translated into fair and balanced decision, in the best interestsnof every one who appreciates the entire family of carp varieties and their various roles in history.