Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-30
FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA.
Odd Creatures That Disport i'm the Fish
Commission Aquaria.

Odd Creatures That Disport I'm the Fish
Commission Aquaria.
GLINPsEs OF LIFE BENEATH The OCEAN WAVE
MARINE FISHES AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Used IN ARTIFICIAL PRoPAGArIoS-ISTKREsT
ING SIGHTS AT TIE OLD ARMosY BUILDING.
One OF the most novel and interesting sights
to the visitor at the national capital is the
Artificial propagation of fish. carried on in a
large brick building in government reservation
No =, and known among the fish commission as
Central Station" The station is not unlike
the twenty or more Of the additional stations
operated In the various states. Besides hatch
ing Its nifty million shad, white fish, trout and
salmon annually, il contains additional features
illustrating the methods of the various estab-
hshments operated in the production OF edible
fishes. Its principal work as a Matching
station lies in the production of shad fry, about
nfty million of which produced in the
months OF April and May from eggs taken
at the auxiliary station at Fl. Washington,
eleven miles down the Potomac. Several mil
hon white fish eggs are also Matched annually
Tor Lake Ontario. II being the nearest station to
that lake. When these eggs are In process of
hate hing they give very clear idea OF the
conduct of such work at the Great Lake sta
tons. in Ohio and Michigan, a table of AZ
gallon jars being a sectional view of a white
nsh station. Five million eggs now being
Matched there show the entire process. Some.
being young or comparatively new. have an
amber or pale color, while older ones. with
more red blood formed in the embryo, have a
blacklist appearance. The Matching fry clear
ing themselves from the shells aud pass
ing automatically through the rubber
and glass tubes into the collect
ing tanks complete the story of the
White fish eggs. On long table near by are
salmon and trout eggs In similar glass hatch
ing jars. and in shallow troughs are the fry
recently Matched and Matching. The muddy
Potomac water, however, prevents satisfactory
observation In absolutely clear water. as The
STAR reporter noticed, there is positive bril-
nancy IN the jars and collecting vessels. But
however muddy the water NAV be, the attend
ants, who are always handling, cleaning and
sorting, are ready to explain and make clear
anything unseen. Another feature Of central
station Is
THE DISPLAY OF APPLIANCES
used, and recently used in the manipulation
Of sticky, floating, semi-buoyant or heavy
eggs. On low tables q simple series of the
various devices are displayed. Labels tell in
few words the use of each piece, whether for
Matching or Transporting the fry. just outside
the building, on side tracks. lie the special
railway cars, especially fitted up for the whole
sale transfer of eggs and fry.
LIVE FISH IN TANKS.
Another striking display in central station is
that of the live fish In tanks, both Of fresh and
salt water species; in other words, the aquaria
Each tank is supposed to convey a story or
object lesson. Some contain families and others
groups. Probably the most ancient fishes rep
resented in this large collection is illustrated
In the collection Of living types-the gar fishes
and dog fishes. The first of these is common
TO nearly all our rivers and obtain an easy live
hhood BY following up the spawning schools Of
shad and herring 10 eat the parent fish after
HhsaNy hau L.
sted, diseased, and weak. Gar BROTH" said a
Keeper who was standing near by. ''is a dish
much relshed and is a culinary product of this
species" The dog fish. lazy, indolent crea-
lures, are not ciassed among the edible fish,
although "Cncle Reuben" and SISTER Lie"
declare that ''they's good fish and follows in
hne wild de catfish"
The SALMON TASH
A large tank made of slate with glass front
SENS 20 be the most important object of inter-
est II is the salmon tank and contains q
variety Of species, among them the lake trout
AMI white hsh of the great lakes these two
varieties forming the basis of the great COM
mercisl fishery Of the lakes. The trout are
indeed beautiful creatures and a disciple of the
renowned Isaac Walton could gaze for hours
with enyious eyes and form schemes of landing
one Of these four-pounders, if he had him on q
line.
TROUT AT DINNER.
While The STAR man was watching the swift
graceful movements Of a rainbow trout, COM
mon to California waters, an attache of the
commission came out with a net full of min
nows, the trouts' dinner. As soon as they were
emptled in the tank the re was an activity de-
veloped among the fish, and minnow after min
now was snapped up greedily Several min
pows, realizing their danger, swan to the
bottom and hid among the rocks. In many in
stances their hiding places were safe, but now
ar a Ia rrFrr N..I Gil \
be ousted out and devoured.
A tank near by represe nts the catch of winter
seines on the Potomac, the yellow perch lack
nsh or plckerel, catfish, &c. Another tank con-
talns q collection OF minnows and other small
fishes, held in storage and used as food for the
larger fishes. Other tanks around the room rep
resent the production of the carp ponds the gov
eminent breeding station for pond fishes and
other nshes near the Washington monument,
the brilliant gold fish, golden ide, European
inch, and plants Of various species. Some of
the tanks show numerous yearling trout yora-
cious little fellows. Matched and reared at
distant interior stations. and sent here for dis
tribution Ii more eastern waters
AQUATIC PLANTS.
AL OF the tanks where there il standing
water contain living plants to make natural
balance between oxygen and carbonic acid gas
Nearly all OF these are placed near or in the
sunlight TO produce growth in the plants Some
Of the smaller or drawing-room aausr,a pre-
sent favorable studies for those who have small
a4uErIa IN their houses. In several of these
small aqUaria the water il very rarely changed,
and the plants thrive while the fish multiply
Many snais, which act in the capacity of scay-
eugers. have brought forth families and the
my fellows are found sticking to all parts of
the globes.
TIE MARINE AorARIA
Is another interesting sight to be found at GEN.
tral station In the several tanks provided for
the reception OF salt water fish and plants
numerous species are found and thew are so
different from the fish we have been accus-
toned 10 see, that they are Of especial interest
HE water used IN the marine aauaria il nor
manufactured, as many people think but is OBJ
tanned near the capes at the mouth of the
Chesapeske bay. Mr.. A. b. Davis, the son of
Capt Davis, Of the steamer George Ieary
brings up fresh supply when il is required
when the steamer passes around Thimble sboaI
hght the engineer puts the large donkey fire
pump to work and in few minutes a hundred
TN cans used by the fish commission mes
sengers in Carrying fry from the hatcheries to
the rivers and lakes are filed with natural
water from the ocean.
This water lacks several degrees of being as
dense the water some distance at sea- but il
answers the purpose, and the evaporation
which takes place in circulation causes it to be-
come stronger.
DO you think that the practicability Of main
tanning marine aquaria al a distance from the
has been determined" asked THE STAB
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