Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-13
QUEER FISHES AT ATLANTA.
Something New In AGunrin to BE Ex-
hibited by the Fish OmmfsslOn.

Something New In Aaunrin to he Ex-
hibited by the Fish Commission.
"Our show at the Atlanta exposition will
be the best that the United States fish
commission has ever given" said DE-. Tar
Teton H. Bean to a Star writer. I'VE shall
he able to do some things there which
were not practicable in Chicago, and we
shall have the advantage of experience
gained at the Columbian fair Our exhibit
will be on quite a different plan, cheaper,
more simple, and more effective. We shall
not have severe cold to contend against,
and artificial heating Will be required only
for the tropical fishes. In Chicago the
steam-pipe coils in the auuaria burst dur
ing cold snap, and the plumbers bills
were about 81 900. Fortunately we did not
have to pay them.
AT Atlanta We shall have thirty great
tanks, each containing $50 gallons-in all
1880 gallons. Being near the sea, we shall
have no difficulty in procuring and keep
ing alive all sorts of marine animals. We
shall make a particular feature of tropi-
cal and SuDtropical fishes, selecting those
which are most odd and interesting. We
snail have in our aquaria specimens of the
beautiful angel fishes; parrot fishes, which
have beaks like those of the bird after
which they are named; trunk rishes, which
somewhat resemble ordinary travelling
trunks: the brilliant, eel-iike morays, aud
such curiosities sea horses and pipe
fishes There will be rabbit fishes, which
nave triangular heads and pectorai fins
That stand out after the manner of ears.
SO that the effect of the head is much like
that of a rabbit when seen from the front.
The porcupine fishes will be equally new
to most people. They are armed with
long quilts much like those of the porcu-
pine, and anything more unpleasant to
sit upon could hardly be ima gined. In our
aquaria also will be found box fishes,
wit II np,I
swell fishes. which are able to puff them
selves up like balloons. This they do when
pursued by an enemy and sail along over
the top of the water before the wind.
Peculiar Specimens.
Eve shall have sea bats, which look like
real bats, with pectoral fins resembling
wings and a long snout. Also / should
| mention trigger fishes. with dorsal spine
| that is set with peculiar spring catch, SO
| as to be rigid until the catch is released;
sea anglers, which lure other fishes within
reach by means of an appendage that looks
like worm; spotted hakeS, belonging to
| the cod family, which, according to re-
| cent discovery of Prof. Alexander Agass!Z.
| are provided with electrical batteries
strong enough to give a mild shock, and
the torpedooS or 'cramp fishes of the gulf
| coast, which are furnished by nature with
very powerful electrical batteries. consist
! ing of multitude of small cells. A shock
| from a cramp fish will knock a strong man
| down. There will be in addition a yari-
| ETY. of the skates and sharks we'll as
! red drums, tarpon, mullet, and the SNOWY
| porgies of southern waters. In those wa
tiers are found many little fishes that make
their homes in empty shells. Though small,
| they are very fierce and have sharp teeth.
| They will hold their shells against all
| corners, rushing out and seZing the big
| gest fish that may come along.
| Fresh-Wnter Fishes.
| Some OF these we shall exhibit as well
| as various species of snowy fresh-wateT
! fishes. native to southern waters. Some
of the fresE-water baskr tribe are very
| beautiful Our show of marine animals
| Will not be limited to the fishes. The
| aQuaria will contain Holsters, crabs, anem-
| ones, and many of the poloyps. in which
| the waters along the southern coast are
| so rich. We shall not omit the exquisite
sea fans, nor yet the sea pens, which are
| colonies Of poloyps, if we can keep the lat
| ter alive. Salmon and trout We shall ex-
| hibit for the benefit of people who have
never had an opportunity to those fish
| es alive. No trout are found In the streams
| south of the mount ainS of north Georgia.
though on the west coast they extend as
| far south as the Sierra DIadre mountains
| in Mexico. F.ra
| I'VE shall have apparatus showing the
| in this country. Also shall exhibit the
| processes OF Matching the eggs of salmon
and trout. The season will be too iate for
| the eggs of any other fishes. Salmon eggs
| are the most beautiful of All fish eggs,
| being of large size and deep pink in color.
The aquaria at Atlanta will be in grotto,
| somewhat like that of the FISH commission
| in Washington, but the Srotto and tanks
| of water will be on scale far larger"