Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Arkansas Game and Fish brings large tank display on July 4

A 1,500-gallon-fish tank was on exhibit at the July 4 celebration as part of the Independence Day entertainment at Gurdon High School.

Bass, bluegill and catfish were among the fish on display. At almost any given moment during the display, small children stood staring in awe.

James Davidson, of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said he has been setting up similar aquarium displays at schools, libraries, sporting events and community functions for four years as an educational effort.

"This is about a middle sized tank, as the ones I set up range in size from 300 gallons to 3000 gallons," he said.

Specific fish, in the July 4 tank, included three types of bass - largemouth, spotted and white - three types of buffalo, three types of catfish, three types of gar and several blue gills.

The tank also had two types of turtles, the red-eared snapping turtle and the spring soft shell.

"It was slow at first, but we had more and more people checking out our tank on July 4," he said. "It is always fun to watch the childrens faces as they see the fish and turtles up close, and to answer their questions."

According to Tambra Childres, Gurdon treasurer and recorder, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be setting up a similar display at the Forest Festival this fall, on Saturday, Oct. 28.