30 



aquatic Jiitt 



and at least nearly natural, is reward 

 enough for any seeming trouble they may 

 prove to be. Just to study to make their 

 little lives as natural as possible is a 

 never-ending delight, and abundantly in- 

 teresting. 



In this work-a-day world, where all of 

 us are prone to make of life an all too 

 serious problem, it behooves every one of 

 us to climb atop of some healthy hobby 

 and ride it for all it is worth. The keep- 

 ing of aquaria has brightened many a 

 weary hour for me, and countless others ; 

 it has pulled me out of the dumps and 

 put me back in balance many a time, just 

 from its simple inspiration and the un- 

 ending interest it creates in "something 

 different," and, brother, believe me, it is 

 that "something different" that is far the 

 best tonic you can take for all that ails 

 you. And that is why my aquarium 

 means so much to me. I study it pro- 

 foundly at times ; the fishes, the plant life 

 and all of it, and just to see the com- 

 pleteness of it is enough. I say to my- 

 self, they are happy because they are 

 natural ; they are not trying to be some- 

 thing they are not ; they are real and true 

 and thus all good. 



To get out into the woods and fields 

 midst the birds and flowers, and to join 

 them in their songs of praise to God ; to 

 be simple and true to yourself in nature's 

 own way ; that is Life, and Life abun- 

 dant. 



Aquarium Ornamentation 



It is unfortunate that in arranging 

 aquaria for public exhibition a recent ten- 

 dency has been to place therein objects 

 of an entirely foreign nature. Japanese 

 tea gardens perched on broad, flat rocks 

 at the bottom of the tank, and polished 

 sea shells are entirely out of place. They 

 remind one of the china filigree plaques 

 that a few years since we were wont to 



"decorate" with mutilated postage stamps 

 and beribbon in gaudy hues. One can't 

 be criticised for liking a tiny tea garden 

 a la Japanese, but use it as that art-loving 

 nation intends — on a tray with sprouted 

 horse radish for foliage. Place it on the 

 shelf under the aquarium, around it, or 

 on a tabourette ; don't place it in the tank, 

 the Japs don't drink tea under water, ex- 

 cept in their submarines. If you admire 

 polished sea shells arranged in geometri- 

 cal designs, buy a curio cabinet for the 

 purpose. 



Placing in an aquarium a foliage plant 

 that is not aquatic, and will neither thrive 

 nor even exist submerged is "nature fak- 

 ing" pure and undiluted. It gives the 

 uninitiated an erroneous impression as to 

 what can be done with an aquarium. Of 

 course, all aquaria as maintained in the 

 household are fakes to a certain degree, 

 showing, as they do, an association of 

 animals and plants never found together 

 in nature. This, however, is due to neces- 

 sity, and not to deliberation. The geo- 

 graphic aquarium is the only type that 

 follows nature in the sense that all the 

 plants and animals therein are from one 

 and the same locality. If we would in- 

 terest the general public, let us do so in 

 simple ways as we would teach the child ; 

 let us not create wrong impressions of 

 which they must later be disabused. 



To oxygenate the water in cans of 

 fishes during shipment, Mr. S. C. Lloyd, 

 of St. Louis Society, advises the use of 

 eiean sponges strung across or around 

 the inside of the can above the water- 

 line. The almost constant movement of 

 the conveyance splashes the water upon 

 the sponges, from which it constantlv 

 c'rips, causing continuous aeration. This 

 would seem to be an excellent scheme, 

 but care should be exercised to use clean 

 sponges. 



