The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-15
COMMUN[D
WITH FISH
What the Tourist Found
at the Sea-
side.
[By a AIalihini.l

A
AS malihini of course 1 could not
know the scientific or even the native
names of the curious specimens of sea
life which 1 found at the Waikiki
Aquarium but the strange fish I found
there gave more interest to me than
has ever been the case in my visits to
the New York Aquarium. The fish had
| most grotesque shapes and in the tanks
We're represented more colors and
shades of colors than have ever seen
before. As watched the fish the prob
lem came into my mind: What is there
ii the salt waters of the sea that will
produce such delicate tints?'' That is
a problem for scientists though, rather
than for an idle tourist.
The aquarium had not been opened
to the public but a caretaker permitted
me to accompany him as he was work.
ing about the fish tanks. Each of the
tanks had been prettily furnished, with
furniture dear to the hearts of fish.
coral, weeds and sand. About half of
the tanks contained fish. In one tank
there was a spotted fish having a black
ugly head which was surmounted by
rough looking little horn and the Gu
rious part of it was that it had wings,
actual wings, and these were spread
out like those of a proud peacock. The
earetaker told me that this fish some
times propelled itself through the air,
at other times through the water, and
by spreading out it's wings could float
on the surface.
WE'RE TANNING THEMSELVES.
In the next tank the fish were fam
ming themselves. Like the old lady at
the theater they kept opening and shut |
ting their fans and when they were |
open the fans We're welded vigorously. |
This fish was partly pink and had a |
small horn, with rough edges, mounted |
on it's head. The fan was it's tail, and |
when folded up it had dirty color but |
when the folds were quickly opened out |
the fan appeared to be a bright red.
Another tank contained fish with |
heads like those of wild hogs. They |
had two or three black stripes running |
busily engaged feeding on baby |
shrimps.
GUINEA PIG FISH.
One of the most interesting tanks
contained one large blue fish, a large |
pink colored fish, and other fish that |
looked more like young guinea pigs
than anything else. One of these pig
fish had a square looking body, spotted
black and white, small fan-like tail,
and a square head. The caretaker told
me that the fish were the hardest ones
he had, as they felt like small Jumps
of stone when held in ones hand.
One large tank contained two dull
looking fish. These are commonly call
ed porcupine fish and are about eigh-
teen inches in length. They have large
slothful looking heads and two eyes
which look like two black marbles
stuck into the sides of their faces. And
over the whole of their bodies We're lit
tie quill like thongs. These We're fold
ed against the skin but for our benefit
the fish puffed itself up and these stood
put in a very threatening attitude.
GAME FIGHTING FISH.
Two green fish interested me. They I
were so thin that they We're almost
transparent but despite this fact was
told that they are the gamest of game
fish, A caretaker had a small dipper
net and was trying to transfer the fish t
from one tank to another. He spent
about five minutes at the work and
during that time those fish made big