RE: NANFA-- RE: Native fish keeping starts

Christian Reynolds (creynolds_at_runbox.com)
Sat, 2 Jun 2001 13:21:20 -0400

They make prescription masks too. :)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-nanfa_at_aquaria.net On Behalf
> Of Bob Bock
> Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 8:08 PM
> To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- RE: Native fish keeping starts
>
>
> Geez, maybe I'll have to get contact lenses so I can go snorkeling, too.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Prizma_at_aol.com>
> To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
> Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 6:34 PM
> Subject: Re: NANFA-- RE: Native fish keeping starts
>
>
> > as for me...
> > i always enjoyed playing in creeks as a boy, looking for crayfish and
> such.
> > fish however seemed pretty boring, and i did not think much of
> my friends
> > tropical aquariums. blah blah... i like that skeleton w/ a
> bopping skull.
> i
> > was more into the woods, hunting, hiking, boy scouts, camping and
> playing...
> > i always enjoyed seeing animals, insects, snakes, lizards and such.
> turning
> > over logs for bugs and stuff.
> >
> > when my son was about 5 connie brought home a goldfish from a fair or
> > something in a little jar. well that did not seem like a good
> place to be
> > living so i proceeded to set up and decorate an old 5 gallon
> water bottle.
> > then to the creek for a crayfish or something as a roommate. we were
> finding
> > found snails and bugs and slimy things. to the pet store a few times
> getting
> > pretty, interesting fish... all dying in a few weeks... but the goldfish
> was
> > still hanging in. all the snails died... then i realized a decorative
> copper
> > encrusted rock was killing them. back to the store. dragonflys hatching
> out
> > in the living room. then i burned out my friends water pump cause it got
> > clogged w/ leaves. everything died again but the goldfish.
> > i started looking in creeks more, my fish shop purchases were
> not working
> out
> > to well and i didnt know anything about them. one of the first fish i
> caught
> > was a sculpin... a strange looking thing. i looked and looked in the
> audobon
> > field guide and was finally convinced i had caught a endangered snail
> darter,
> > ( take a look at that picture... it still kinda does :). i was glad to
> hear
> > david etnier make a comment like that when he first caught one so i dont
> feel
> > to stupid.
> > about that time the tennessee aquarium offered a conasauga snorkling
> trip...
> > well that sounded interesting ( as i had scuba-ed the virgin islands and
> > snorkled the keys when i was a bit younger ). after 2 attempts standing
> in a
> > parking lot waiting and having it called off cause of the rain
> i requested
> > directions for myself. drove over and jumped in... blown away.
> incredible.
> > never felt the cold i was so amazed... adrenalized, hyperized. i had sat
> for
> > hours w/ my dad squirrel or deer hunting... bored stiff. here i stuck my
> face
> > in the water and life was everywhere. turtles, fish, darters...
> clouds of
> > minnows, big crayfish... alive! but i could not find anyone to
> go with me
> or
> > help me know what i was seeing or even share in the excitment.
> fish store
> > people would just wag their finger at me... illegal, you cant keep fish,
> take
> > that back where you got it, etc. discovering the internet i found a site
> on
> > aol about native fish... allright! i was able to ask questions. then i
> went
> > to the library and found john quinn's book! what a book! and
> then a fellow
> > told me about nanfa. the rest is an ongoing history. never boring,
> > interesting people, new experiences, traveling and exploring.
> new species.
> > better aquarium management... tho im getting more and more keen on just
> > observing, perhaps photography will be my direction. it is impossible to
> > replicate in a little tank of water what i experience in the tellico or
> > conasauga... or even the little stream flowing down thru the
> neighborhood.
> i
> > have extremely enjoyed this opportunity to experience god's creation. it
> is a
> > glorius wonder. and i do see our mankinds impact on it. much concern. i
> think
> > most of us try to share this with our friends, neighbors and
> coworkers. we
> do
> > have to care for our world, keep it clean. i have seen some
> scary stuff...
> > some people just dont care. streams are still dump sites. but i
> have also
> > seen people learning and appreciating. that excites me and
> gives me hope.
> > for those interested i would urge you to pursue wildlife
> management people
> or
> > university biology departments. ive been able to participate in a lot of
> > surveys w/ people like those. for 3 years i was able to help
> document all
> the
> > fish found in chattanooga city limits urban streams. this is an activity
> that
> > can really speed up your knowledge acquiral. they love to have people
> along
> > who are fired up and interested and can use the extra help. ive been on
> boats
> > electro shocking up big gars, drums and catfish. ive been in
> little creeks
> > where we found red bellied dace and extended their range. ive
> been back in
> > caves catching blind cavefish for permitted research. everywhere i go i
> take
> > my mask and snorkle. when it is so hot all you want to do is stay inside
> w/
> > the airconditioner... grab your mask and head to some real liquid air
> > conditioner and spirit rejuvenator!
> > casper
> >
> >
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> > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
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>
>
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> ------------
> /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
> / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
> / Association"
> / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes
> Association
> / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
> / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
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> / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page,
http://www.nanfa.org

/-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily
/ reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes
/ Association"
/ This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association
/ nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word
/ subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to
/ nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to
/ nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead.
/ For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org