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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 1908)
4 1 f , 2 TTTE OMAITA SUNDAY BEE: FEBRUARY 2, 1908. Picturesque Scenes at New York Aquarium During: Feeding" Process riff VnttV 4 Ana m IhA EW YORK, Fen. l.-On- of tha moat picture srtue sights at the Aquarium in Battery park the serving out of the dally ra- '" tlma to the I.W captive sea ' : J dwellers. llttU and but. Tha 10 wall tanks and spacious floor pool are said to halter the largest colony of fishes- tit "different kinds ever gathered under one roof In the world. The fact that X.131. ln peraona panned through Ita'doora duiinf tha last year, an average of over S.000 dally, stamp It as ore of the moat popular aliow places In the world. Getting up the dally menu for the fishe quires more labor and expense than one jlprlit muu". One .ttendJ" devote' H. i ; -4:" ; .- -. ',3 '., i " ' J . !. .. vAV " ! I F i ,m.muMr?'- i nil. "n 111 i: . ri Ill itTC a Wt rMt Csrocotor t., thX rtro&y noAffDKtt or vmS sic iA mutt . about half of each day to tha preparation of tha food and several others are kept busy the remainder cf the afternoon feeding the f(lieo The food Is varied to suit the fishes, and Includes beef- sliced, chopped or mlneed liver and fish, cod and herring mostly. Minnows, when procur able In abundance, arc provided at the rate of ten or . twelve quarts dally, and are Imply thrown alive Into tho tanks whera the larger fishes soon dispose of them. Bhrtmps to the 'extent of about fifteen or twenty quarts a week, four or five bushels Cf mussels a year, small crabs, such as fiddle crabs, stone crubs and young-blue era be, by the thousand; marine worms at the rate of 600 or 00 a month; small soft clams In quantities of from 10,000 to 12,0j0 during the summer season are also on the menu. The average board bill for the Aquarium's guests for a month la tlOO. Among the chief attractions of tha Aquarium at present, from the fact that H is comparatively new and rare here, the curious aea cow, or manatee, from Florida, the only one In captivity In thla country, It was presented to the Aquarium by A. W. Dhnock and has survived eight een months, which 'is the record time for a manatee to live in conflnenment. The sea cows In their wild habitat are especially shy and cautious of man, diving' and disappearing Immediately! on his ap proach. Being of tropical origin, the mana tee requires special treatment and care. The. .water In the pool is, kept at a suitably warm temperature, between 70 and 72 de grees; Eol grass and lettuce leave are Its .chief fare. -, The former is used chiefly When .Obtainable. The aea . cow . was captured in a large drag aelne.. Numerous attempt to take one had been made at different time for a month, and many broke and escaped through the net before one was finally ob tatned.j i. The manatee ha considerable swimming paca In hi tile-lined pool, which Is twenty feet long by thirteen wide, with ,a depth of four feet of water. The water la re newed dally. " . 'Tha feeding of the sea cow I watched S.O SfCSt L fx Or 3 At "rrco MQjiAm mo. ow. amirs or coo with interest by the visitors. It is done by W. de Nyse,- who throws handfuls of eel grass Into the tank. The best view of the animal is obtained when the water is run off in order that the pool may be cleaned, thus leaving the whole form of the manatee strikingly out-, lined. A very clear view of this strange creature la shown io the photograph here reproduced, which waa taken after 6 p. m., when all visitors were out. ' The picture shows the manner of giving thl animal a shrfrnpoo.' In thla process a long handled brush Is used to brush off the day' accumulation of various sub stances. The manatee seem to enjoy, it daily rubdown and the Inflow of fresh water, after which It will settle. down In one corner of the pool for slumber. Another star attraction of tha Aquarium is the silver bedecked spotted moray. Thlaj extraordinary eel inhabits the caverns. grottoes and coral reefs of Bermuda and la one of the most Interesting of the many otrunge sea marvels from this tropical Isle, which' Is celebrated for Its gorgeous colored fishes. ' A wholo tank Is given up to the display of this brilliant coated moray. The picture here reproduced shows the long serpentine creature In a characteristic attitude a It la about to receive a atrip of ood for luncheon. This, the favorite food of the moray. Is passed to and fro close to It open mouth, till the animal suddenly gulp tha tempting morsel. . - In he ocean depths the moray are vorac(ous, even cannibalistic In their habit and are the terror of tho other fishes. With their long bodies partly concealed by being wound around aome ledge or crevice they lie In ambush, their Jaws with lancelike teeth open half a foot or more, in readiness to dart at and swallow the first unsus pecting victim that swims by. They are caught In traps and also on hpok. Tha native negro fishermen lose .no time in cutting off th head of one a soon a It la landed in the boat. If a big specimen happen to get loose a panlo 1 likely to start, among tha crew and they wilt Jump overboard on the Instant. Of all the Aquarium's boarder the little ea horse, six Inches long, are the moat fantastlo in appearance. They are so named from the close resemblance of their head to that of a horse. The tfood necessary to whet their appe tlte 1 somewhat odd and hard to obtain. It has been found that they can be kept In good condition only when they are well supplied with gamarua, very minute crustacean procured by gathering bunches of fin sea moss, which It Inhabit. In feeding tha aea horse's mouth Is placed near the prey, for which it con stantly searches, and Is suddenly opeaed. The cheeks being Inflated at tha same time. the food I captured with the Inrush of water. When bunches of sea moss are dropped Into the tanks the f lnh Immediately camper to the bottom, and pick out the minute life from tha weeds. The aea horse Is probable the only fish having a prehensile tall which It uses in a monkeylike fashion, constantly anchoring Itself to woods, stones and sticks. The position of the body is usually vertical, especially In swimming. These little creatures are found all along the American coui from Cape Cod to South Carolina. There Is one remarkable feature about them not known generally. Contrary to the rule with the reet of tho animal world the eggs while hatching are carried by the male in a pouch, and the young are said to return to this for shelter. Hundreds, probably thousands, of baby in dividuate are thus transported around by the paternal member of the family In his incubating pocket while Mrs. Sea Horse, released of care, roams fancy free. The clever maneuvers of the little harbor seals from the Maine coast share the pop ular Interest with the sea horee. They are hearty eaters and have strips of cod and herring for their luncheon. These are usually thrown Into the pool, but often times when the seals come up on the plat form the food is suspended over their heada for a moment and then eagerly snapped at. These creatures are rapidly disappearing from the Atlantlo coast. Owing to their ravages upon the fish some of the New England states now offer a bounty of from tl to 13 a head for the destruction of these animals in order to protect the fishing in dustry. Lt. B. Spencer has In the laboratory and In the balanced aquariums many minute fresh water and salt water forma of life which are daintily fed on bits of beef. His collection Is especially rich in example of living coral and fine sea anemones. This nature study department, supple mented by Mr. Spencer's short lectures and object lesson talks, furnishes a popular educational attraction which is well at tended by teachers and school children. The Florida Crocodile Is about tre most Indifferent and Irregular of tho Aquarium I boarders, as days and even weeks will pass without its taking any food. When rations are to' be served the animal is roused from stupor by being punched. Its anger Is shown by growling, accompanied by open ing Its ponderous Jaws, in which the at tendant swiftly lodges a big fish. In the floor pool containing the nine lan? aea turtle of fouf different kinds the star Is ft giant green turtle from Florida weigh ing B13 pounds. HI shell la aa big as a small dining table. The slxe may be Judged from the Eaat Bide boy seated on his back. This turtle and his mate are fed on a choice menu of clams, eel grass, lettuce and whelks. Great Thing's Are Predicted for the New East African City of Nairobi fConrritrht. 190ft. hv Frank n r.rn.nt.r ,r.. ' mmmtm -v (Copyright, 1908, by Frank G. Carpenter.) AIKOBI, British East Afrlca.- Nl (Special Correspondence of Tha I Bee.) Have Vou ever heard of niuroDu ii is me metropolis of this faraway colony, and the 'place which tha Kngllsh think I to be one of the greatest cities of Africa. They are already' speaking of it as a Chi cago In embryo, and are prophesying that ft will have a vast white population. The town la not half a desen years old. Three yoars ago it had hardly a house. Today streets have been laid out over an area about ten mllea In circumference; hundred of building of tin, wood and stone have been erected and the place has almost 12,000 Inhabitants. , Nairobi lies in the very heart of British Eaat Africa. It 1 little more than half way Inland from the coaat on the road to ke Victoria, and. aa the crow flies, about 100 miles from Mount Kenla, which kisses ths cloud at an altitude of 18.000 or 19.000 feet, off to the northward. I can aee Mount Kenla, from here ona bright day, and some distance down Wie"rallroad, when the sun is Just right, one can get a glimpse of the two peaks of Kilimanjaro, which lies to the southeast, .in the German posses sions, a distance Of 150 miles or more. Nairobi itself la Just about as high as Den ver, and. Ilka It, la kltuated at the western end of great plains, which rise In an alti tude of 6,000 or more feet above the sea. They are so high that the equatorial sun Is conquered by the altitude, and white men can live and work upon them the year round. The country Is In fact a whit man a country, and with car people of Iron booths, open at the front, in whlch their nakednu Tt,. . . our race can thrive upon thousands of Hindoos stand or sit surrounded hv thir .nn ' " . ,ne nav town- stations upon age to make a good show. Allied to them I to i .m .s i4 " ------ v wicj IQ 1 1 rU Ueri LI V ITlM.KRAJsl nr 1 llair . IjUaB Vlntnrla r wl rv.. it. mi. - . a,a, - . . -.vV.. uU ii.iaiim. ineiart are me ports men and the scattering ele- They have ' aia.i i j ui Liiein swiifM i vnrm r ro nova vorv on aitMioin , . i - The ,vmnr w """7. "'cy "V8 uPn ment dunes, lords and second sons of " ' fiiiisu, AiieBB nive Brown rAn n v. a mnHT nn h nv t . . . . square mllea of It. I struck these plains after a twenty-hour ride from the Indian ocean by railroad. They make me think of our west as it was fifty year ago, and I doubt not In time they will be settled by ranchers and farm ers. Just as is the western part of the United States today. This country la an empire In its undeveloped possibilities, and the English do right In putting a high value upon It. But I shall writ mora of that in the future. goods.. My hotel Is half iron. treasury nearhv. 0nutlf f . .h.rf . .v.. . ' " wu unueraeu me noma lamilies who nave come out here to more than flfte'en feet squire.,, of tin and S LTrt2 IT. lolTVl' !"? annas, or from 4 to 6 cents each. regular telegrams from the Reuter agency, which gives them, the big news of tho world, apd they furnish full report of tho local cricket, polo, tennis and gulf matches. This week's Star re port the meeting of the East African Turf club, and in the Globe Trotter I see the story of a cricket match which was held laet Saturday between the government City Batlt af TIa. This letter Is to be devoted to th tin town of Nairobi. I should say galvanised iron, for that is the chief bifllding material. nere worthy of mentioning, tha rnrot have not been exploited, and about the only lumber available Is that which is brought from our country and Norway and landed at Mombasa. The ocean freight rates are heavy, and In addition there Is the cost of bringing the lumber here by railroad. As a result the most of the bulldlnva are of has a tin roof. I could chon It ,k 'Ju L. " . " ",7 "u" irn.. lney usually men or means, ror the prices of With a butcher knife- and tha nnlv .im nt ' were mourning. , .re ior jewelry, and all sorts of large tracts of land are high and it also iX X 'i ttl,n rj.mh ' . knickknack. that the African wants. They cost, considerable money to fit out a game aun L hand ., JS! . , ,k " A",- B,,lck -'"' ln EurPn oods. and one can shooting expedition. In addition there are gun In hand, stand, outside guarding the i hv. given th total population of bur almost anything from a needle land speculators, who" are chiefly young wwc. vi&ivo mo jtuiu surveyor is nb mhi - - ir. . ui T j -.. v . , in jl irw nr manh n. ii .,, i.. . - . ... - " - r,t ii. j - ' : .v. i uuuui wiiBiuar u iias -- - ....... in iinuvui iiidii iruiu ,ngiana or Doutn Alrlca. They elerka and tha Inaimnunla A. in tlx "na " are ln P0ce Headquarters L0O0 whites. Of the remainder ahont nn there is one long street which la devoted .... i. . ....... . - ' ' '" i,t1- advertlaemenLa. tha moat of tliam enma from the local merchants and some are odd to an extreme. One in the Globe Trot ter of today is signed by a well known American circus company, and states that it wants to buy a white rhinoceros, a giant hog, some wild dogs .and a white tailed mongoose and bongo. Another advertise ment ia that of the Homestead Dairy, and the house. In which the supreme court third are East Indians and the others are the Hindoo market. The stores are all open top boots. They dash about the country is held. The more fancy dwellings are the queerest Africans you can Imagine, i " th8 front- n1 th men squat in them on ponies, and are especially In evidence '- " -"""?,""" apeaji 0t mem rirst, because they are v"c" 8"y Kooam piiea aoout them, around the bars of the hotels. There are brick bulldlnges are rising.,-, , everywhere. You stumble over them on TheBO Indians dress in a quaint costume but few white women here. Several of the I the Street: thev wait unnn vnn in th- not uniine mat or the English clersrvman government offlclula havo l,o(r iv.. i,t. Paatarca. . hotels: their carrv hnron. rnr ,i .n,i who wears a long black coat buttoned nn them, and now and than ntmA ,. they clog your footsteps when you go out- to th8 throt- Tha only difference Is that out to hunt with her friends. I have met of the natives wear mnuoo s trousers may be of bright- three women who have lions. themselves shot I.ararelr Car The fcalrobl Of todav ia lat-wnlv rvtu tmm There are no saw mills or planing mills turea It la a city of magnificent dlstanoes. side town. Manv nnrn wnrrnv nr manf v. . - , - ... . v . , .. .very piace or importance seems several -dirty, greasy cloths, net more than a yard colorea cmico, cut very UgM. and hu head miles from any other place of the .ame wida and two yards Umg. They hang them may be cov"ed with a flat skull cap of character, and the patches between are about their shoulder, and let them fall velvct embroidered In gold. Moreover, his ofton graslng ground. The bouses are of 'down, on each side, so that they flap thl. one and two storle., and they are soattered way and that In the bree.e. Some wear along wide streets which run for an In-, breech cloth., and some do not and not a definite, distance out Into the prairie. The -few are bar to the waist. In the early Tnls British city, notwithstanding it. shooting tripe, and they will give you por- "rt" ot affrioultural Implements, chief ways of . getting about are on foot, morning when the air Is still sharp many African and Asiatic inhabitants; and the ter who will carry your stuff and chase One of these newspapers of Nairobi la oi these people are clad In red flannel rulln clas ne English. They are 1,18 ,lon oul OI Jungles so that you may edited by an American. It is known as feet are usually bare. White Poolatloa. Nairobi haa EnirlUh lrw.. a,,.,. showing the Improvements made along lawyers. It ha. one photographer and two farmln" 1,ne nd other, state that certuin firms which advertise themselves as Safari morchnta will outfit hunters for shooting outfitters. These men supply you with Tner r many land seals advertised, and tents, provisions and other thlna-a tnr machinery, American wagons and all UU11 wmuii comes nere in sneeta on horseback 0r In Jlnrikshas, tho latter being by far the most popular. The Jin from England and Belgium. Almost all the buildings ars of Iron, which is put up Just as U comes from the factory, giving the whole town a silver gray color. The post office la of 4ron, the depot has an Iron roof, and the same la true of the 'governor's offices. Many of the houses have Iron ceilings and Iron walls, and the chief .retail business section la a collection of onstory blanket?, and they go stalking along with ,,vldc1 UP into caates, almost as much aa their legs bare to the thigh. I havi al- "re tha Eat Indiana. The government ready spoken of the ear plugs. Some have of"cial rank at the head. They are the the holes In the lobes of their cars so wo"8 ot the town. They dress well and stretched that I can put my fist through Pon1 great deal of time out of office them. The loops ore so lonir that when a hours playing tennis and golf, which. shafts and the other pushes behind. They man take" out his ear plug he hangs the ",rnge to say, have already been Intro- are clad In a sinirle cotton cloth .hi.h 'WP of skin over the too of his ear to nre- ""ceo. into mis pan or ue black continent. get a shot at them. rlkshas are much like those used In Japan, save that they are larger and wider. I am told they are made In America, They are pushed and pulled by black Africans, two to each vehicle. One man goes In tha -"V A - , - .... .. . A i! '0 ' V-'. Nairobi Newspapers. It seems strange to haVe newspapers away out here under the shadow of Mount Kenla. within a half day's ride on horse back of lion and rhlnocerou. hunting. They wild game. are all banking on the future of tha in tx huv 11, .no ri.u,....t.r,,t.. r..r flap, back and forth a. they run. exposing vent " catcl"iig onto something and tear- They aUo rld,9 about on horseback and In and all claim to be prosperous. They Barnum and Bailey's circus, and he still I n. i . , fia,r flvDi nn.l niuin ........ 1 . . ... . . . ..... ' " -o-". - nmn- are gooa Slzea Journals solllna- for trnm " ttontlnued on rage Four. the Olobe Trotter, and has a good circula tion. The editor's name Is David Oarrli k Longworth, but I am not sure that he Is a relative of the president's son-in-law. Hd Is certainly enterprising, and partakes of our president's character In his love for He cam out here originally If mi. J7t J. mm V$M HOTEX, AT NAIROBI, WIfKRH MR. CARPENTER 8TATEIX ing. -ilia loop Inoks just like a leather strap about as wide as one's little finger nail. I have handh d many of them, twist ing them this way and that to be sure they are genuine. I see a squib In the Globe Trotter, a newspaper of Nairobi, which fits the, native costumes here. It Is: "A London tailor Bays that any gentlrman can bo rind for 25 (tU'S). The nnlvo gentleman of Nairobi can be fully clad fer 2 annas (about 5 cents) Including the smell." Thla African smell I. everywhere. It load, the market places, and I verily think It might be copped up Into blocks and '.old a a new kind of phosphates. The natives cover themselves with hair ell and body grease, and the combination of this when It turns rancid ard of the natural . effluvia wfilch exhales from their persons 1s " Indescribable. Others of the natives smear their faces with a mixture of grease and red clay; they caver their hair with the same material, s that they look more like copper Indians than Africans. Eaat Irdfaa Traders. These Africans do all the'hard work of Nairobi. They are hewers of wood and drawer of water. I see scores of them loaded with iron and brass Jewelry of var ious kinds, carrying baskets' of dirt on their heads, loads of wood on their backs snd pushing and pulling carts and wagons through the streets. The most of my trlrs from one placa to another arc made In two-wheeled carts hauled by natives so clad. I find tha retail business of Nairobi don by East Indians. This waa also the ease at Mombasa, and I am told It la so in every settlement oa this part of th con tinent Th Hindoos have made their way along every traveled rout, and their lltu tores mar be found in every large Atricaa " y"' ...fi if! r.-, a h ih E Hi',i .,ry p .j ' W v 'fl- .tM V"! . i y- i infer rt "' ' 1 --- J - - IN DU BUSINESS QUARTJilUB XV JJUiattfU.
