National Republican., 1883-02-27
THE FISHERY EXHIBIT.
Preliminary Exhibition at the New NH-
tional Museum Last Night.


A very large assemblage gathered upon in
vitation at the National museum last evening
to inspect the United States fish exhibit now
ready to be transmitted to the World exhibi-
tion at London next May. The museum was
illuminated by the electric light The ex-
hibit itself is the most complete that has ever
been collected, and illustrates the fish in oil
possible lights and aspects. The collection
was commenced on the first of last July, and
has occupied not quite eight months, the
work of boxing up commencing to-day.
When ready for transportation the boxes will
weigh some $50 tons, and the freight Will cost
about $4,000.
The exhibit comprises specimens of all the
fish in cast or in nature from the tinicst min
now to the sperm whale and from fossil mol
lusks to the latest product of scientific pisci-
culture. The specimens are generally of
papier machc and executed with degree OF
skill that is especially commendable. The
exhibit includes everything illustrating the
habits of fishes, their species, genera. orders,
and families, their natural history the man
ner of propagating and all facts, either
popular or scientific that fall under the
head of an exhibit. Prof. Baird said
that this exhibit was larger than the entire
Berlin exposition, q statement which reveals
the great magnitude and completeness of the
was the propagatory tank and fish hatchery.
Here were white fish in the process of being
Matched, and tho history of the salmon was
exhibited from the act of spawning to that of
being canned A generous share of attention
was paid the carp. who swan about in his
native element rs unconccrncd as only the
pond lilies were witnesses of his natatOry per-
fOrmanCes. One of the most interesting things
observed was the lie saving service with
ponds under the main dome. Here was a
complete suit of Boyton's life preserving gar
4nCnts.
The whalcr exhibit under the direction of
Mr.. William Temple Brown was monument
of that branch of marine history, and reflects
much credit ON Mr.. Brown. There were all
tho appliances for pursuing and catching these
monsters of the deep" so litclikc and nat
ural that il seemed bit of the old time Nam
tucket had been suddenly dropped down into
the museum. Lashcd to the bOwsprit was a
wcathcr-beatcn, grillly-bcarded sailor, whom
you instinctivcly felt tempted to address as
Coffin or Starbuck or Macy holding u poised
harpoOn in his hands ready To launch it at
the gigantic prey the moment il rose to
blow" All sorts of anglers appliances were
shown. from the most artistic fly ever thrown
in still pools to the brook trout, to the red
flannel that tempts the mackcrcl off Sable
islands and the Banks Shad catching and
cleaning in all its stages interested the visitor,
while the details of oyster dredging were
given with fidelity to nature that your
fingers grow as cold as those of
the black skinned drcdgers on n slcety
night in the shallow waters of Tangicr
sound. Too much praise cannot be awarded
the artistic execution of these specimens. So
perfect are the colored persons that you
smile ut them. Prof, G.. Brown Goode under
whose directions the exhibit was completed,
has achieved n work worthy of all praise. 1t
iustihcs rhapsody for its thoroughness and
completeness. The thirty-fvc hundred people
who were present at the museum last night
felt they had never seen such n sight before,
nor had they any conception of its extent and
nnrlnrIinn.