22 
Aquatic Lite 
for the background of the picture, before 
catching the fish. The bottom material 
should be such as is found in the habi- 
tat of the species that is to be photo- 
graphed ; fishes that habitually live where 
the bottom is rocky should not be photo- 
graphed with sand, pebbles or shells on 
the bottom of the tank. Next the ma- 
The Bluefish, Pirate of the Seas 
Pomatomus saltatrix 
terial for the background should be care- 
fallygmcollecteda litaathemn tisha. thon 
fresh water, plants growing in fresh 
water should be used, but if the subject 
is marine, select seaweeds, sponges, coral, 
starfish, sea urchins and other salt water 
forms. ‘The same background should not 
be used for two different fishes, but 
should be changed or at least rearranged 
for each subject. I have often found it 
advantageous to collect the materials the 
previous day. 
In most cases the partition glass can 
be inserted in such a manner as to divide 
the tank into two equal parts. The 
background can then be arranged in the 
half farthest from the camera, and any 
thrashing about by the fish will not dis- 
turb it. 
Next catch your fish—this is no cer- 
tain thing! 
When taking pictures at the seashore 
I have resorted to three methods of pro- 
curing specimens; by going out with the 
fishermen to the pounds where fishes are 
caught for the market, by being present 
when they were using seines, and by the 
slower and less sure hook and line. It 
is necessary in these cases to have a live 
box or “fish car,” as they are sometimes 
called, or a ventilating minnow bucket 
to keep the fishes alive until they are 
photographed. 
Assuming that the fishes have been 
caught and the tank arranged, the im- 
portant phase now is to get a picture that 
will repay the trouble. The light should 
be carefully considered. As it takes 
more light to illuminate glass and water 
than thin air, exposures should not be 
attemptedmbetorestOm Ne Ve wormea kien 
P. M., and between these hours only 
when the sun is at its best. Pictures 
taken earlier or later in the day are apt 
to show shadows or annoying reflections 
from the glass sides of the tank. Fre- 
quently the photographer will secure a 
fine reflected view of the camera as well 
as a picture of the fish. 
It has been my practice to use no back 
ground outside of the tank, but when 
this is the case, there should be nothing 
but the sky. One should be careful to 
see that no person or object is behind 
the tank. 
A great measure of patience is neces- 
sary to get the right results, for very fre- 
quently, when the fish is brought from 
the dark depths of the live box, it im- 
mediately drops to the bottom of the tank 
and will not move, or it may thrash 
about, spattering the water over the sides 
and getting into all manner of unnatural 
positions. <A little patience and gentle 
coaxing will usually overcome all ob- 
stables and a good picture of the fish 
swimming leisurely along, with all fins 
spread, will result. 
I usually take three views of each 
specimen with the hope that at least one 
will be good, and very frequently all are 
excellent. The expense of the two extra 
plates or films is repaid when it is con- 
