PHOTOGRAPHING FISH 109 



of a fish, even in an aquarium. Yet the effect pro- 

 duced by surroundings of a certain colour is by no 

 means invariable. As a rule, however, when a 

 brightly coloured fish is placed in an aquarium 

 which is lined with white, and has no other colour, 

 the fish will not don his finest colours; he remains, 

 instead, pale and almost transparent, so as to blend in 

 more or less with the immediate surroundings. A 

 few stones added will sometimes cause a fish to 

 resume part of his colouring; but when a quantity of 

 rich vegetation is introduced, he will usually show 

 himself off in his very best markings, perhaps only 

 for a few seconds at a time, but more often for sev- 

 eral minutes together. 



This colour-changing is one of the most exasperat- 

 ing difficulties to overcome. We have so little control 

 over it, and, according to the perverseness of things, 

 it almost always happens that when a fish assumes 

 exactly the attitude one wishes, it loses its colouring 

 at the same moment. It is quite needless to say that 

 an unlimited supply of patience is almost as neces- 

 sary as the camera itself if we wish to have any suc- 

 cess. I remember, when I began photographing the 

 fish of Key West, having a red nigger-fish brought 

 to me. It was of a beautiful delicate coral red, with 

 tiny specks all over its head and body. I immedi- 

 ately placed it in the aquarium, and, after the usual 

 amount of trouble, succeeded in making two expo- 



