New-York tribune., 1909-05-16
HER FINNY PLAYM4TES.
UOman Trains Fish to Eat from
Hands Under Water.

Tame fish are not common pets. yet they are
very interesting have found from experience
That others. il inclined. may find ways OF enjoy
ing the dwellers Of the deep without taking their
lives 7 viii tell of school of fish that entertained
us one summer on the shores Of Lake MnnetOnka.
We began to win their confidence by throwing
crumbs 20 them we sat in the boats under the
willows but noticing II was hard for them TO come
TO the surface for food. I 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. till one ven
tured to nip the bread 1t was good and harmless.
and ne tried again Another came, another ana
another till courage which IS everywhere con-
taglous spread among them. and the days went
by they seemed almost 10 forget fear and always
swan eagerly TO meet US when we went down 10
the lake shore.
For a time I always whistled to call them in.
but later l went silently and found them just as
ready TO greet me when 1 called. noticed.
though that il we out on the pier heavily, or
rocked a boat the water. they hocked IN more
speedily. which fact concided with the observa-
tions of scientists, that fish are in some way very
sensitive to vibrations of the water.
In our bay the sunhsh tribe was most numerous
and fearless. I often put my two hands together
like n dish and holding them under the water they
were instantly filed. crowded with the soft velvety
little things. There never was anything smoother
and softer than living fish in water. R|se petals
would be rough in comparison.
We never startled them by taking them out Of
the water; had done so the spell would doubt
less have been broken and We should have had no
tome fish The only one I ever took from its na-
tive element was unfortunate that had been
Iured bv a hook and though escaping with his Ire
had the hook still hanging in his mouth Ihls
removed and returned MIN again to the water. re-
loved from what probably painful incoh-
venience though terrified and distressed: but after
performing that surgical operation was never
able II he remained with Us, TO distinguish MN
from others -,
These little fellows grew very fast With the good
living provided. but we no more Thought OF making
meal of them than of sweet-vciced canarles-
one morning a long. slender pickerel came anu
made his abiding place with us lie was Nti
r1ucb of an aristocrat. always holding hhnseI
tttIa aIoof from the others. and never tempted 70
or,a IN their table by any variety of food coutd
.ooers. ahough he came close and seemed never
offended when I strol1ed his smooth SIDES ai"aS
noticed what a cruel looking race He ~
wondered If It was because he was very huisiS'
Most of the time he held himself nearly n1Otloh-
less in the water. but when he did move II was
Ike a lightning fash; then all his hhny coiipaH
ions disappeared Making a circle 'NIousN ~
water he would return to his usual posltloh near
the boat, watching with his set eye "S " az
the appointed ruler there - .. .L
After time my brother. coming oo"H 10 tne
lake saw him and asked. How long 90 you 'liliiA
,r school Of fish will hold out to feed that can
'U ,. ~, r,,rds we're revelation. II was
,,rtei,e, had never suspected his strange man
ners especially as l had noticed thaI ne always
seemed to be swallowing something "hen ne Ie
+,-ai from, his fights through the water Be
sides brother added. he could snap on your
finger at a single bite II ne chose- -
-, nos no longer welcome for our pickerel;
t,stasd willow branch was struck vigorously
through the blue waves whenever he approached
and soon he came no more
7rta most friendly undisturbed individual in our
living collection was black bass. He was Ittle
more than a foot long when we first noticed him.
Ne seemed TO make his abode in growth OF
u,atar moses near a fallen tree. and no one ever
vrent down to the shore that he did not swim ma