Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-25
HER FlNNY PLAYMATES.
Woman Trains Fish to Eat From
Hands Under Water.


Hands Under Water.
Tame fish are not common pets, yet
they are very interesting, as 1 have
found from experience. That others,
if inclined, may find ways of enjoying
the dWellers of the deep without taking
their lives, 1 will tell of school of
fish that entertained us one summer
on the shores of Lake Minnetonka.
We began to win their confidence by
throwing crumbs to them as we sat
in the boats under the willows. but
noticing that it was hard for them
to come to the surface for food, l
tried holding bits of bread in the wa
ter. At first they all sped away, but
| were soon back again investigating my
hand shyly, but coming nearer and
nearer till one ventured to nip the
bread, 1t was good and harmless, and
he tried again. Another came, an
other and another, till courage, which
is everywhere contagious. spread
among them, and as the days went
by they seemed almost to forget fear
and always swan eagerly to meet us
when we went down to the lake shore.
For a time l always whistled to call
| them in but later 1 went silently and
found them just as ready to greet me
| as when l called. / noticed, though,
| that if we ran out on the pier heavily,
| or rocked a boat on the water, they
flocked in more speedily, which fact
| coincided with the observations of
scientists, that fish are in some way
| very sensitive to vibrations Of the wa
| ter.
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 water
they were instantly filled, crowded with
the soft, velvety little things. There
never was anything smoother and soft
er than a living fish in water! 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 1 ever took
from it's native element was an un-
fortunate that had been lured by a
hook and though escaping with his
life had the hook still hanging in his
mouth. This 1 removed and returned
him again to the water, relieved from
what was probably a painful incon-
venience, though terrified and dis
tresscd; but after performing that sur
gical operation 1 was never able, if
| he remained with us, to distinguish
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-voiced can
aries.
One morning a long, slender pickerel
came and made his abiding place with
us. He was very much of an aristo-
crat. always holding himself little
aloof from the others, and never tempt
ed to come to their table by any var
iety of food I could offer; though he
came close and seemed never offended
| when I stroked his smooth sides.
always noticed what a cruel looking
face he had and wondered if it was be-
cause he was very hungry. Most Of
the time he held himself nearly mo-
tionlcss in the water, but when he
did move it was like lightning flash;
then all his finny companions disap-
peared. Making a circle through the
water he would return to his usual
position near the boat, watching with
| ruler there.
After time my brother, coming
down to the lake. saw him and asked
How long do you think your school
of fish will hold out to feed that can
nibal?" The words were a revelation.
1t was surprising l had never suspect
ed his strange manners, especially as
had noticed that he always seemed
10
returned from his fights through the
water. "Besides," brother added. "he
could snap off your finger at a single
bite if he chose"
There was no longer a welcome for
our pickereI: instead willow branch
was struck vigorously through the
blue waves whenever he approached,
aud soon he came no more.
The most friendly. undisturbed indi-
vidual in our living collection was
black bass. He was little more IMAM
a foot long when we first noticed him.
He seemed to make his abooe III d
growth of water MOSES near u 1allen
tree, and no one ever went down TO
the shore that, he did not swim ma
jestically out to meet him. opening his
great mouth as he neared the surface
for an expected morsel. and very sell
dom was he doomed to disappointment.
II we were slow in offering 1t, he would
come as close as possible to shore. new
er hesitating to eat from our fingers.
seemingly no more afraid Of us than
we were of him.
He was rollicksome, jolly fish, new
err troubled about the necessities of
life. and seemingly satisfied with it's
conditions. Every one felt like laugh
ing when one saw him, and it really
seemed as if he enjoyed companion
ship.
1t was pretty sight when our yacht
steamed out from shore to see the wake
of fish that followed it; and 1t was
especially pleasing to watch them come
to meet us on returning, as they al
ways did.
No one thing gave US more pleasure