TAME FISH.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1926, Page 4

TAME FISH.

SYDNEY AQUAItIOM. SYDNEY, March o. Melbourne has had an aquarium lor many years; Sydney has never been able to offer her citizens such a means of satisfying human curiosity. It- was only in their last report that the Melbourne Aquarium Trust bewailed increasing losses of attendance, duo, so it was stated, to the more thrilling attractions of the moving; picture hall, theatre, and dancing rendezvous. In fact they reported a direct loss of many hundreds of pounds for an institution that was once remarkable for tin? profits it made, and trie trustees spoke aegrctfuly of a possible form'd closure. It scorned that, in face of this adverse opinion. Sydney would be forced to go to Melbourne to sec fishes in captivity, but on the heels of the Melbourne Aquarium authorities’ doleful report came an announcement from the trustees of Sydney’s splendid zoo, Taronga Park, that they intended to coM.struet a wonderful habitation for marvels of the deep at a cost of £15.000. THAW LI NO FOR SPECIMENS.

Plans are already being made to stock this aquarium in a manner titling to its own architectural beauty. A fishing expedition is bring organised and, as strange and beautiful denizens of tile deep are the objects of the trip, those who pnrtiepate in it should have an interesting time. A trawler will be sent on a <raise along the coast, and it is possible that Sydney Harbour will he trawled for the first time in its history. Several men will be sent to (treat Barrier Beef in search of beautiful coral fish, while others will lie dispatched to secure the gorgeously coloured fish of Lord Howe Island and the Sandwich Islands. Bequests have gone to Malay for specimens of the “lighting fish” of those waters—a species of which the males, when they meet, try lo dazzle op| oncuts with brilliant changing colours before engaging in combat. Orders will, also be sent to New Zealand for samples of the iisli native to the waters of the Dominion.

It will bo interesting to watch the result of Sydney’s newly-planned aquarium. If the trustees of the Zoo are able to make it as profitable as they have already made the beautifully situated pleasure ground by the harbour shore, the Melbourne Aquarium trustees are certain to turn green with envy. It would he a feather in Sydney’s cap to find profit where Melbourne is failing.