FIGHTING FISH

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1788, 29 July 1926, Page 2

FIGHTING FISH

'Siam is the home of a quite small fish, measuring barely four inches in length, which, owing to its pugnacious disposition, has earned the name of fighiting-fish. The female are comparatively placid, but the male fish are continually fighting one another, and so fiercely do they do so that their duels frequently end, in the death of one or other of the combatants The 'female is often a sufferer from the bad temper of the male, which, during •the breeding season, when his advances do not always immediately meet with a favourable response, becomes infuriated, and often rdsorts to force in order to im’press lufpon !h;is chosen one that he does not intend to be ignored. This bullying method of courtship usually leads to marriage (writes ;E. G Boulenger in the London Daily Telegraph), and the pair eventually settle down !to a comparatively happy matrimonial life. These fish have for centuries been kept in a domestic, state, as the Siamese breed, them .specially for the sport that they afford. ’ 'Contests are arranged between picked pairs, and the .combats are still as popular in Siam as was at one time cocknfighting in England. Before indulging in this 1 sport in public it is necssary to take out a license, and the “ entertainment tax” thus imposed yields an appreciable revenue to the country. The fights are held under recognised rules, and a well-qualified rpnpire is present to decide any doubtful point that may arise. The fighting-fish appear in public on a single occasion, a s although they are usually removed from the tank in which the contest takes place before fatal injuries are inflicted, the punishment they receive renders them unfit for future combatant service. •Further, the razor-like sharpness of their teeth, with which they do the damage, becomes greatly impaired after a serious fight, and is never regained. In most towns throughout Siam tournaments are organised at which all comers may enter their fish. The combat takes place in a large hall, in the centre of which a large round bowl is suspended from the ceiling by chains, at about five feet from the ground, and in this tank the fish are placed. Round the bowl are seated those who have paid for admission. To an inexperienced observer it must be extremely difficult to see what is going on, but the practised eye of the native finds no difficulty in following every movement of the minute combatants, and they louidly applaud every skilful thrujst of the fish which is carrying their money. Under ordinary conditions fighiting-fish are dull grey or brown in colour. Under excitement, however, as during breeding time, or on the occasion of a fight, the change its quite astounding, the fish assuming a dazzling livery of red, blue, green, and purple, and forming one o fthe most beautiful sights to he observed in nature.