UNDER SEA WITH HELMET AND CAMERA 



Years ago I was on a cruise among the coastal waterways of Massa- 

 chusetts and we were at anchor in Hadley harbor, Naushon Island. At 

 night we hung a shaded electric light overboard and watched small fish 

 being attracted towards it. Presently three squid made their way through 

 the lighted area. Their semi-transparent quality and grotesque appearance 

 would have made a remarkable picture. Apparatus could be constructed 

 for this purpose using two lights, one of normal candle power, the other 

 very brilHant such as is used in taking interior motion pictures. When 

 the object had been attracted by the low power lamp and was in posi- 

 tion for photographing, the high power lamp could be turned on mo- 

 mentarily. If arranged as described, this apparatus would not exhaust 

 the storage batteries on the boat too rapidly. For still pictures the mag- 

 nesium flash could be used. 



The question will naturally arise, if fish are brought to the surface by 

 artificial light, why bother about taking the camera under water? Why 

 not photograph them from the surface? The answer is that a photograph 

 of fish, looking down on their backs is always uninteresting. The most 

 important and beautiful characteristics are concealed. In fact, it is prac- 

 tically impossible to identify the species of a fish from a photograph 

 taken from the surface. But an auxiliary apparatus can be designed for 

 submerging and exposing the camera in very shallow water, or when 

 fish are near the surface, without necessitating the photographer going 

 down. A little ingenuity would easily produce a pneumatic or spring 

 attachment to the camera case that would permit control of exposure 

 from the surface. The camera then could be attached to a pole and let 

 down to the desired depth. Motion of the fish and pointing of the camera 

 could be watched through a water glass. 



Still another direction in which the diving and photographing equip- 

 ment could be used to advantage, would be exploring the sides below 

 water level of fresh water ponds, especially the rocky ponds of clear 



1862 



