The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09
SNAP SHOTS OF FISHES
Illustrations of Photographic Work
Under Water.
Deep Sea Creatures Mny BE Pictured
Modern Era of Invention - Some
Interesting Experiments Made by
DIR. Il. W. ShufcIdt, of This City.

| caliy unlimited. The Photographic tense
| is turned upon other worlds and it re-
veals hitherto hidden mysteries of the
heavens. Lately 1t has been directed to
submarine depths, and now we have the
strange creatures of the sea and river as
they live and move in their native ele-
ment.
In this latter regard DR.. r. ". Shufeldt
| of this city, has demonstrated the won
derful possibilities of photography under
water. DR.. Shufeldt, who is well known
as a scientist and writer, has co-operated
with the Fish Commission in his labors,
and has reached, as intimated, most as
| tonishing and encouraging results.
| Many attempts have been made, hither-
| TO- by the Prince Of Monaco and other per-
| sons interested in these matters from a
| scientific point Of view, to photograph fish
| es under such natural conditions, but most
of them have not been at all successful.
1t has now been proposed to lower Gamer
as into the depths of the sea, miles down
| beneath the surface, with view to getting
| snap shcts of such strange animals and
/ vegetation as may exist in the unknown
| submarine world.
| This last plan would, however, be very
/ difficult, il not altogether impossible Of
accomplishment, owing to the many OBJ
vious difficulties in the way, such as the
enormous pressure of the water. amount
! ing to some tons per square inch and suf-
! ficiently powerful to crush like egg shells
any conceivable instruments that might
be sent down for the purpose.
Even under much more favorable cOndi
| tions. as in streams or still ponds, The diff
| ficulties are very great. Flash lights are
not required, as they would be in the
depths of the sea. daylight being adequate
with proper exposure in shallow water.
But it is very hard to determine exposures
with accuracy. and there is no method by
which the fishes themselves can be kept
| still and adapted to the proper pose by the
eXacting photographer. Accordingly, the
only success thus far produced in this kind
of picture making has been accomplished
in aquaria where the scaly subjects are
restricted of their liberty and obliged to
| pose at the hands of the artist.
The idea of taking fish in their native
| element is a comparatively novel one.
Such pictures as have hitherto been made
have been mostly OF salmon or trout or
ether game fish as they have leaped from
the water and were caught by the tense
OF some lucky and patient amateur.
DR.. Shufeldts subjects were taken in
the aquaria of the Fish Commissions
building, while floating idly in the water
or swimming about for exercise or in
search of food, SO that the pictures rep
resent the fishes as they habitually live
instead of under such extraordinary con-
ditions as leaping into the air after q
fly. or projecting themselves from the
water to escape a pursuing enemy. The
fish with which DR.. Shufeldt seems to
have had the best luck is the common
fresh water sunfish known to many out
| side of the scientific world as pumpkin
seed" The intricate markings and mot
things of the species. together with their
grouping. are beautifully displayed in
| several of the Doctors photographs. For
fully two hours upon an intensely sultry
| afternoon writes DR.. Shufeldt. Il was
obliged to wait before one of these speci-
| photographed"
The result, however, has repaid the
trouble, as the pictures are as perfect rs
| IL taken through the medium of air in
stead of water. A very realistic picture
of the large mouthed black bass is among
the finest examples. Other photographs
made include those of the naked star
gazer, lying on its side and gazing upward
with that rapt expression SO characters
tic of its kind; the brook trout. very
| fine picture; the catfish. very well taken.
| and splendid photograph of the common
pike, taken with an exposure of two sec
onds, the res;ful habit of this fish per-
hitting the operator to take his time in
getting the focus and location in shape for
the best result. This photograph, by the
way, corrccts an error in the drawn
illustration of the fish given in a recent
report of the Fish Commission, as it
! shows the extremities of the pixies tail
forks to be rounded instead of acute, as
in the drawing.
| Incidental to his Photographic work, DR..
| Shufeldt has studied the habits of his
subjects concerning which he says:
These fish, in confinement, exhibit all
| their natural traits. and in their aqua
| rum some will be seen swimming about
| not far above the bottom others will he
| lying upon their sides, and still others
| attempting to secrete themselves beneath
| the rocks. while occasionally exhibiting
| a peculiar method of combating each
other This consists in two fish coming at
| other face to face, opening their mouths
| and, the one bringing his teeth in con-
| tact with those of his antagonist, each
attempts to force his adversary backward.
| or il he or the opponent be taken off
| guard for the instant, the more watchfal
| fish OF the two will make the attempt to
| bite the other. Sometimes there seems
| TO be a sort of grotesque playfulness about
| the maneuvres, while at others an earn
| est, combative nature Is quite apparent"
| beautiful eyes, which change color a little
| at times Usually these eyes are of 4
| brilliant emerald green, which. unfOrtu-
| nately, photographs very dull and pale.
| Their large and handsome fins are con-
stantly in motion, rendering them eY-
tremeiy difficult to catch.
| From a photogra piers point of view.
| perhaps the most interesting of the pic
lures Dr. Shufeldt has taken thus far is
l .f t,,t.n a
strong, taken while swimming. II is by
no means perfect photograph. many Of
the fishes being out of focus and others
| being SO Swallowed as to be hardly dis
| cernible, but not figure exhibits any
| blurring from movement, and ii is doubt
! full whether any other photograph extant
shows so many living fish on one plate.
| Touching upon the matter of fish photog-
rapby, DR.. Shufeldt says:
To one having but little knowledge OF
| the use OF the camera. 1t would appear to
| be a simple matter to photograph under
such apparently favorable conditions. but
such is by no means the case. In the first
place, in most instances, the incessant
rapid ard often erratic movements of the
fish themselves have to be taken into ac
count; the aquaria being large, We have in
the second place, the difficulty of prompt
focusing to contend with, due to the lati-
tude enjoyed by the smaller and more
active forms. Thirdly, there is the ques-
tion of reflection, and this. taken in con-
nection with the light, is a serious prob
lem. Reflections are especially trouble
some, as the glass fronts of the aquaria
receive them from all directions, SO that,
after focusing careful study Of the image
upon the ground glass will show these re-
Elections not only from some of the other
| acquaria. but possibly the photographer
and his camera besides. All this must be
carefully guarded against
THE camera employed upon this occa-