The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-11
'PISCATORIAL ALLIES
HOOT GERMAN CARP
Parrot Fish in Aquarium
Taught to Hate the Tcu-
ton Finstcrs.
TRAINED FOR SMOKER
Scientists Would Have Had
Treat IL the Flying Fish
Hadn't Side Slipped.

Obviously there was fear approaching
terror in the hearts Of the 12b d'stin-
gu,shed members of the American FISH
cries Society when at the close OF tho
second day of their annual convention
here Yesterday they filed into the Aqua
rum at o'clock last night and noted
that a number of newspaper scientists
from Park Row had established them
selves in a sort OF press gallery next To
the tank occupied by the suckers,
1 The visiting Ash experts were fearfnl'
II seems. that the Idea of the New YORK
geological Society rendering the visitors
n smoker in the Aquarium would lead
the frivolous among the press salieIy
inmates AT the Aquarium smoker 10 de-
vote cara. rs this morning to obvious
wncr..s about smoked fish.
Little "a the 125 scientists reanz.
that the saGnnsS which filed the near
Of Prof. Mike Gannon--Mike pelhs
sort Of uniformed steward and dry nurse
to thu parrot fish, German carp and ny.
inp f,sh groups In the Aquarium--had
spread all over the press gallery, thus
driving all thoughts of facetiousnes'
from even the most irreverent OF re-
porters; for Mike Is their friend and sc
they sorrowed with him.
And no true friend OF Mike coult
como away from the smoker At M
Aquarium last night with any though
except to write q stra!BAtaway. scien
tific, dignified account OF the smoker
and then hurry back to the Battery ant
try to cheer Mike UP. For when one
thing wasn't happening to Mike yesfer'
day 1t was another, AMI all because
Mikes enthusiasm during the prepara
tons for the smoker had carried him Il
extremes. He tried too hard and cracked
under the strain.
Mike Had His Troubles.
In the first place-to begin with tht
barest recital OF the facts of the case
the minute Mike had heard from DR.
Charles Haskins Townsend, the dis
tingu,shed director of the Aquarium
some days ago that the leading p,sca'
toral scientists and conservat!on!sts Of
America were to be entertained ut the
Aquarium as a part of their conven'
ton programme here Mike got out 9
troupe of his flying perch of Java anC
patiently began to train whole schoo
OF the flying FISH TO do the falling leaf.
the side sllp,' various noce dives
through tho air and tail spins, Nike:
idea being to have his flying fish doinf
every awaiting stunt possible and I'M
possible above the visitors as they sa
around tho Aquarium last night MUNICH
ing sandwiches and smoking the!
churchwardens
First Of all Mike started in as earl!
as n week ago last Monday TO build u;
the wing muscles of the flying fish b,
shooing them into the air and making
them fly around and around tn
Aquarium for several hours each da!
shSong them ceilingward again ever,
time they tried to settle on a railing
Unfortunately. however the flying fsl
daily flew around the indoor circle from
left to right The result was that al
though the muscles of the righ. wing:
developed enormously the port win,
muscles atrophied. and go when Mike be
san last Saturday to train the E Il
do the awaiting stunts he had In ulln'
the flying fish all side slipped con
stantly lowing to the greater weight o
their starboard wing muscles) and 81
crashed to the floor with force sufticien
to stun and even Kill them.
Prof. Cannon, with the perseverance
80 characteristic OF all scientists worth.
the name. promptly downed his first dis
appointment and Immediately begal
work upon still another idea he had II
mind TO make the smoker programme
notable one. II seems that about tn
time the United States went into tn
war Prof. Gannon-from patriotic rathe
than scientific motives-moved the tank
OF parrot fish close to the German car
| tank and began to teach the parrot fis
! during odd moments) 10 swear at tn
! German carp.
Great Submarine Idea.
Out OF this humble beginning Pro
| Cannon evolved the idea OF interestin
the Government in n plan to cross tn
! flying fish with the parrot tish 80 tina
. in case OF necessity the hybrid fyin
! parrot fish could be used to carry verba
: messages direct from Secretary Daniels
Office at Washington. II need be. all tn
way to submerged submarine CON
manders far at sea.
| Last Monday lerenoon It happene
| that while Prof. Cannon was passing
| tank filed with these hybrid flv'rg pal
rot fish he noted that a flock of the h,
birds were perched on the top of II
tank and were rssping down noisily ;
collection OF Mississippi catfish in Il
tank adjoining. There was turmoil
the catfish tank. whereupon Mike hu
ried over 10 straighten out the conf,
sion.