FISH PHOTOGRAPHIC EXCURSIONS 161 



tank is placed immediately behind the other, and in it 

 are arranged suitable weeds (gathered during the early 

 morning fishing excursion). No water runs through 

 this tank, and at first it is thick and muddy, and the 

 weeds droop. On the platform behind the second tank 

 are placed stones, gravel, earth, sods of growing grass, 

 or stiff reeds. Beyond is hung up the plain canvas 

 background. When the sun is low and casts a long 

 shadow, this background must be sufficiently far back 

 to be out of the shadows of the tanks. 



The preparation of the second tank and platform 

 has probably occupied an hour or more. 



Now leave the tanks for two or three hours. After 

 lunch go back, and the change is wonderful ! The 

 water in the front tank is crystal clear. Possibly the 

 fish may be swimming about, but more probably it is 

 still sulking on the bottom. The water in the second 

 tank has cleared considerably, the weeds have freshened 

 up, and every leaf is covered with bubbles of gas ; 

 and the earth, stones, and clumps of reeds on the plat- 

 form behind the tanks (seen through the thickened 

 water in the second tank) all appear to be part of a 

 pond scene. 



The water in the second tank ought to be just suf- 

 ficiently thick to obscure the farthest edge of the plat- 

 form as seen on the ground glass when the fish in the 

 first tank is sharp in focus. If the water in this tank 

 is too thick, run a stream through it for a few minutes 

 with the hose pipe. If too clear, stir up the bottom 



L 



