MUSEUM OF THE SEA

Evening Star, Issue 18623, 2 May 1924, Page 10

MUSEUM OF THE SEA

A MILLIONAIRE’S HOBBY. The Ara arrived at New York recently from Miami (Florida) with many new specimens of tilings that move in the sea for the Vanderbilt Marine Museum on Long Island. “I expect to have the museum completed some time in May,” Commodore Vanderbilt said. The Ara. one of the smartest yachts of the New York Yacht Club, belonging to Commodore W. K. Vanderbilt, looks like a well-prccncd seagull as she rides the river swell and creaks at her anchor hawsers. She is 213 ft long, and carries a crew of thirty-two, under Captain Fanburn (says tlio”New York ‘EveningPost’), “ Wo 'do our fishing,” said Commodore Vanderbilt, “ with rod and line, with drag nets, set nets, and doep-soa dredges. The dredges work at 200 fathoms from the yacht herself. Ihe nets are hauled by launches. I started my museum just as a hobby, but, like most hobbies, it lias grown on me. Now I have 400 odd specimens. 'the more one collects the harder it becomes to make additions. But there are still kingdoms to conquer—more than 2,000 varieties, 1 am told.” In his chase after strange tilings of the sea he has caught a number of unknows, which have been taken by the Museum of Natural History.

“ Wo try to get two specimens of each variety,” he continued. “Due is placed straightaway in a 5 per cent.' solution of alcohol to preserve the colors. Some of those tints arc rare and delicate, combining all tones of the rainbow. We found that too strong an alcohol solution, while it preserved the fish, burned out these hues. The second specimen is skinned and mounted. The carcass is replaced by a wooden form, over which the skin is fitted. Then, working from the preserved specimen, the original colors are brushed on. Finally, the mounted fish is fastened by a concealed support from the rear. The background is painted to represent the fish’s .habitat. Shells and sea flora complete the effect.” Commodore Vanderbilt said the powerful vw.l.u; ;(-( 1,. ... a range of 1,500 miles. The yacht is driven by Diesel engines, the economy of which permits the carriage: of fuel for 10,000 miles of cruising. The Ara ran from Gibraltar to Jacksonville, 4,600 miles, at an average speed of 11.5 knots. Tho whole trip took little more than two weeks, which Commodore Vanderbilt holds to bo a record for yachts.