THE AQUARIUM, APRIL, 1897. 103 

Use the dipping tube to hold it down 
at the roots while these are being cov- 
ered with pebbles and sand with the 
dredge. 
Especially useful are these aquarium 
tools during the winter months, when 
the water is chilly, as they make it un- 
necessary to put the hands into the 
water at all. 
RE-ARRANGING THE AQUARIUM. 
When the aquarium is to be thor- 
oughly cleaned and re-arranged, which 
should be done once or twice every 
year, the water is drawn off with a 
rubber syphon to within about six 
inches from the bottom (this water, if 
practicable, is saved and used again 
when the tank is re-filled. The older 
the water, the better. The author has 
used water for eleven years in this 
way). Next take out the rockwork, 
then all the plants, also the larger 
pebbles, and now carefully catch 
and remove the fish, etc., placing 
them in a clean tin vessel with plenty 
of water of suitable temperature. Take 
out the balance of the water now and 
also the sand, but do not move the tank 
from its position. After washing the 
sand particles off the inside of the glass 
to prevent scratching, clean the entire 
inside of the tank by rubbing it with 
ordinary table salt, using the fingers 
instead of a brush. All the brownish 
or green matter being taken off, the 
tank is once more washed with clean 
water and is then ready again for re 
stocking. 
The sand should be well washed in 
various waters until perfectly clean be- 
fore it is put back into the tank. 
Where sand is easily obtained a new 
supply is preferable. 
The rock work, or the rock used for 
it should be scalded and then washed 
in salt water with a rough sponge or 
small scrubbing brush before replacing 
in position. 
The plants are then looked over and 
the most desirable ones selected and 
planted again without delay ; the tank 
refilled, and fish, etc., returned as soon 
us practicable. 
Two or three hours of labor once or 
twice in a year—what a wealth of pleas- 
ure, information and pastime will they 
bring to a family circle, school room or 
hospital ? 
We cannot leave this chapter without 
calling attention to the old saying: 
‘What is worth doing at all is worth 
doing well.” 
FISH GOSSIP. 

It is curious how, in looking over old 
papers, some matter is come across of 
as great interest at the present time as 
it was when first given to the pub- 
lic, although, perhaps, the article in 
question was written long ago. I gen- 
erally make a note of any point of 
special information, and a few selec- 
tions from time to time, bearing on fish, 
may prove of interest to the readers of 
THE AQUARIUM. 
Some years ago Professor Farraday 
read a paper before the Manchester 
Anglers’ Association on ‘‘ The Mind 
of Fish,” in which he stated the follow- 
ing curious circumstance: ‘‘ A morsel 
of food thrown into a tank fell in the 
angle formed by the glass bottom and 
the front. A skate, the inmate of the 
tank, made several attempts to seize 
the food, but owing to the position of 
its mouth on the under surface of the 
head, and the closeness of the food to 
the glass, was unable to do so. It lay 
still for a while, as if thinking, then 
suddenly raising itself into a slanting 
