CHAPTER V. 



THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF FISH. 



^TREATING this matter 

 in the first place in its 

 scientific and most impor- 

 tant aspect, it is obviously 

 necessary that, in order to 

 give the photography of fish 

 stickleback - any real scientific-value, the 



photographer should be more or less acquainted with 

 the points of a fish. It has been laid down that, from 

 the ichthyological standpoint, a correct delineation of 

 a fish should show the following important external 

 characteristics : i, The length of head, tail, and fins, 

 in proportion to the total length of body ; 2, the 

 general contour of the living specimen ; 3, the number 

 of rays in the fins ; and 4, the lateral line and number 

 of scales along it. From a photographic point of 

 view very great importance should be attached to 

 No. 2, for there is little doubt that a photograph 

 correctly showing the contour of the living fish, and 

 accompanied by careful measurements, would be of 

 higher scientific value than any drawing, however 

 laboriously executed. 



A reference to a standard work, such as that of 

 Day, will probably convey two general impressions 



