> 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
> > >
> > >
> > /-----------------------------------------------------------------
> > ----------
> > --
> > > /"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
> >
> >
> > /-----------------------------------------------------------------
> > ------------
> > /"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
>
>
>
>
/---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- > /"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
/----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"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