The San Mateo item. (San Mateo City, Putnam County, Fla) 189?-19??, 1909-11-13
sSstIssD.SD.sIss SysSssIstSst ).
Her Finny
PlaymAteS
WOMAN TRAINS FISH TO {:
EAT FROM HANDS
UNDER WATER


yet they are very interesting, as
have found from experience. That
others, II inclined, may find ways OF
enjoying the dwelltrs OF the deep
without taking their lives, / will tel
OF school OF fish that entertained
us one summer on the shores OF Lake
Minnetonka.
We began 20 win their confidence
by throwing crumbs TO them as We
sat In the boats ulder the willows,
but noticing Il was hard for them TO
come 20 the surface for food, | tried
holding bits OF bread in the water.
At first they all sped away, but were
soon back again investigating my
hand shyly, but coming nearer and
nearer, tin one ventured to NIP the
bread. II was good and harmless,
and he tried again. Another came,
another and another, till courage,
which is everywhere contagious,
spread among them, and as the days
went by they seemed almost to for
get fear and always swan eagerly TO
meet us when we went down TO the
lake shore.
For a time ] always whistled TO
cal them In, but later / went silently
and found them just as ready to greet
me as when called | noticed,
though, that II we ran out on the
pier heavily, or rocked a boat on the
water, they fiocked in more speedily,
which fact conceded with the obser.
vations OF scientists, that fish are in
some way very sensitive to vibrations
of the water.
In our bay the sunfish tribe was
most numerous and fearless. often
put my two hands together like a
dish, and holding them under the wa
ter they were instantly filed. crowd.
ed with the soft, veivety little things.
There never was anything smoother
and softer than a living fish in wa,
ter! Rose petals would be rough in
comparison.
We never startled them by taking
them out OF the water; had we done
so the spell would. doubtless, have
been broken and we should have had
no tame fish. The only one ] ever
took from It's native element was an
unfortunate that had been lured by
a hook and though escaping with his
life had the hook still hanging in
his mouth. This / removed and re-
turned him again to the wator. re.
lieved from what was probably pain
full inconvenience, though terrified |
and distressed; but after performing |
that surgical operation was never |
able, II he remained with us, to dis |
tinguish him from others.
These little fellows grew very fast |
with the good living provided, but |
we no more thought OF making a
meal OF them than of our sweet-voic.
ed canar.es.
One morning a long, slender pick |
erel came and made his abiding place |
with us. He was very much OF an
arlstocrat, always holding himself a
little aloof from the others. and new.
er tempted TO come to their table by
any variety OF food could offer; |
though he came close and seemed |
never offended when ] stroked his
smooth sides. always notl.ed what
a cruel looking face he bad and won.
dered II II was because he was very
hungry. Most OF the time he held
himself nearly motionless in the wa
ter, but when he did move II was
like a lightning fash; then all his
hnny companions disappeared. Max
Ing a circle through tho water he
would return 10 his usual position
near tho boat, watching With his set
BYE as II he were the appointed ruler
here.
After a time my brother. coming
Town TO the lake. saw him and aslr
ID. "How long do you think your
school OF fish will hold out TO feed