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From: Bruce Hansen[SMTP:bhansen]
Sent: Saturday, 30 March 1996 15:32
To: 'acn-l at pinetree.org'
I agree with Peter that "Fishwatching" is incredibly relaxing as well as enjoyable and instructive - a lot can be learned about the ecological and social responses of fishes simply by sitting on the streambank and observing.Despite trying for the last 1
0 years or so to interest aquarists in the "unattractive but interesting" species instead of (or as well as) the "pretty but often boring" there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel lately.
However most local fish are easier to maintain as a small colony in outside pond culture rather than as aquarium subjects. Unfortunately pond culture has a lot more potential hazards to the security of the population sample. On the other hand pond cultur
e allows us to view the fish as in nature and allows the fish to behave in a 'more natural' way.
By the way, why don't so-called "Field Guides" offer top. views( i.e. from above) of fish and notes for "fish-watchers" on recognition features from above and swimming patterns etc which we "enjoyers of fish in the wild" would find helpful when in unfamil
iar territory? .
Bruce Hansen, ANGFA