Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-15
KEEPING FISH ALIVE.
AN INVENTION WHICH BIDS FAIR TO
BE VERY USEFUL

Interesting Experiments in the Trans
portation of Fish-kept Alive for Week
in q Theoretically Sealed Glass Jar,
Partly Filled with Water.
An interesting and curious Invention has
been lately patented, which bids fair to be
useful and important in the transportation OK
live fish. 1t was discovered by Mr. Walter
G. Murphy, of New York city, the patentee,
that fish could be kept alive for some con-
siderable time without change of air or
water by placing them in receptacle partly
filled with water, and hermetically sealing
the same. To test the invention, experiments
were carried on, some of them by the favor
of Professor Blackford, Of the New York
fish commission, at Fulton market, New
York city.
In order to make the test as thorough as
possible, young fish and fish as delicate as
could be obtained were used These mere
striped bass. The latter to the numbe OF
about two dozen were placed in a glass jar,
filled nearly to the top with water, and the
jar was Theoretically sealed. The fish were
kept for several weeks in the jar without
opening it, and did not appreciably suffer.
Upon opening the jar and placing them in
fresh water, they appeared as lively and well
as before being placed in the jar. Another
similar experiment being made, it was found
after several weeks confinement, the time
being extended beyond that of the former
experiment, that the deep black lines in the
bass began to fade and disappear and a white
fungus made its appearance on the fish, which
was speedily followed by their death. Ex-
pertinent with the jar wholly filed with
water showed that the fish quickly died.
ANOTHER EXPERIMENT
Another experiment with the fish as in the
first mentioned case was made, and a second
jar the same as the first, with like number
of fish and similarly filed with water, was
placed beside the sealed jar The second jar
was left uncovered and the water was I'M
changed. The fish in the closed jar were
apparently as well as ever at the end of three
weeks. The fish in the open jar all died with
in forty-eight hours. While changes Of tenn
perature were known to be a serious question
as affecting the conditions of keeping fish
alive, and while the changes of heat and cold
to which the jar and contents were unavoid-
ably subjected could not be well regulated,
yet the fish in the closed jar were not affected
thereby. Experiments were also tried in
which the air in the jar containing the water
and fish was compressed and it was found
that the fish were benefited thereby. 1t would
appear from the above mentioned expert
ments that grown fish and hardy fish could
be transported from one distant locality to
another with little trouble and expense, and
that in the case of deep sea fish compression
of the air would aid in effecting the result.
The advantage to sportsmen in carrying live
bait would seem to be great, and the value to
the United States Fish commission to be
inestimable almost, in view of the great ex-
pense now incurred in building special cars
and apparatus to transport and keep fish
alive. The scientific reason for the result Of
this invention has not been explained. The
The late Professor Baird, Of the United
States Fish commission, when the invention
was brought to his attention, suggested that
by reason Of Theoretically sealing the jar,
water did not undergo the rapid change that
took place when the jar was left open, and
which bred parasite which destroyed the
fish. Whatever be the reason, it would seem
that the invention was one Of great benefit
and value, and that while the fish so treated
will eventually die if not taken out after a
certain time, yet practically, for the purpose
of transporting fish alive, the result attained
IS complete success.-Scientific American.