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Re: Wild Collections must be identified

Good luck on the new book, Roger. It is a most helpful book and I hope someone
continues it  right along. Have you made a proposal to the new BOT re; a
committee for tabulating wild collections codes? I sure don't want to get you
involved - although you have been the only one for  years, Roger and have done
a fine job. The AKA should really set up a formal structure and try to
integrate it with foreign groups as you and Wolfgang have done with the DKG.
As you stated so succinctly, Roger, it will become even more important in the
future to have an accurate record of our aquarium fish as many serious
hobbyists will not handle "aquarium strain" species. 

By the way, Paul Loiselle gave a presentation Madagascar Fish at the Tampa Bay
Aquarium Society. He had photos of some beautiful Pachypanchax omalonotus
species. He said you had several of these colorful varieties. No doubt you are
working with them. I think I mentioned this to you as he was not receptive to
hobbyists participating in species maintenance as "hobbyists can not do the
necessary paper work!" It looks as though we will have to muddle along and
depend on more receptive fish people in the professional ranks. Did you see
the editorial in the January issue of Fresh Water and Marine Aquarium
Magazine? Dr. Kaplan of the Hofstra University Marine laboratory is touting a
refugium for maintaining about 200 species of endangered fish in one large
collection under the auspices of some university (Hofstra?). Get the magazine
if you have not see it, Roger. I asked Loiselle about it and he denied any
details, but immediately knew the man and the subject so I have a feeling he
knows more than he let on. Apparently, the "pros" are working on the problem
and not involving the hobbyists which is a most unfortunate state of affairs.
We already have a number of endangered or extinct killies in our tanks and
could be a willing "cog" in their machinery. I know the ACA also has a
maintenance program cranking along, but these are all volunteer outfits. Let's
hope the pros come around and we can cooperate in time. 

Hope you are enjoying the winter, Roger. You live on a "high and windy" hill,
but the scenery is grand. Keep warm and take good care of  your fish. Adios

                                                         Yours,   Harry