Evening star., 1933-06-17

An outstanding phenomenon OF the
depression years has been the tremen-
dous growth, both as hobby and as a
business, the one naturally following the
other, Of the cultivation OF small trop-
ical fishes in the home.
Unlike the miniature golf craze, THU
hobby seems to have come to stay. To
those whose only idea Of q home aqua
rum Is the keeping Of goldhshes, 1t
comes as o surprise that q great busi-
ness has been established, particularly
with Europe and South America, In
supplying the United States with fishes
from tropical waters.
Thousands of specimens are landed
at New York weekly, more than $4,000
fishes coming in from Hamburg, Ger
many. the world center of this activity,
in one shipment recently. In tanks all
over the United States enthusiastic am
ateur and professional breeders are rails
ing tens of thousands more, to be
shipped to every large city in the
country.
Mexico and Brazil see American
scouting parties searching for new finds
to tempt the tropical fish fans" now
numbered by the unknown thousands
throughout the country. One result OF
this search is to be seen In several 10
cal aquaria, in the form OF miniature
Brazilian catfish, Corydoras anaeus
about an inch long, and colored blue
and orange.
With the organization Of the National
Aquarium Society last Winter. Wash
ington was put definitely on the tropi-
cal fish map. There is a splendid per-
manent display of "tropicals" at the
new Department of Commerce Build
ing, in the aquarium belonging to the
Bureau Of Fisheries. The National
Geological Park has a fine display OF
tanks Specimens of brilliant Hawaiian
fishes preserved in alcohol may be seen
at the new National Museum.
These organizations make tropicals
"official," In the National Capital, but
they do not begin to exhaust the pos
sibilities of public interest. An author
ity has estimated that Of the thousands
Of persons now interested in the keep
ing of fishes in the home. perhaps 95
per cent are not connected in any way
with aquarium societies. There yet re-
mains much pioneering work for such
bodies to bring into their ranks more
of the great mass of those interested In
the home aquarium for the beauty and
pleasure of most diverting game.
The real spirit of the home aquarium
lies in the home. Those who make
their livings by working with and
handling these pets are first to recog-
nize the great surge Of interest which
is sweeping Washington along with the
remainder Of the country. Where in
terest is, money Is, and inventive
genius is building up new forms Of
home aquariums, quite the latest being
tank which is heated, lighted and
aerated by electricity, being particularly
built for inclusion in the furnishings
Of the modern living room.
The "man in the street" has come to
feel the fascination Of these small crea-
lures from far seas, swimmers colorful
interesting, as he sees for the first time
Scalares, or Bettas, or Moons in the
home Of friend.
Tropical fishes have come to stay In
land where the home only temporarily
suffered an eclipse at the hands OF
fast-moving inventions. 1t Is a far cry
from the old days, when there were
only few men, even In the large cities
interested in these beautiful creatures
Now the crest Of popular interest ID
crossing the country. Everywhere one
turns, one runs into typical fish fans
discussing the relative merits of various
guppies with angelflsh, or the posi-
bilities Of line breeding.
Laymen all, they yet roll the most
fearsome scientific names of their
tongues. And this Is pure happiness
not only to them, but to those scien-
lists who have made ichthyology their
LIE work because these recognize in