Way back in 1982, I was keeping U.K. native marines in southern England.I had been reading a book on the Sea fish of northern Europe and the Mediterranean and wondered about the possibility of combining a diving holiday in southern France and collecting some hardy species like wrasse for a home aquarium.I managed to obtain a letter from the ministry of agriculture and fisheries granting me permission to bring only sea water fish back with the firm undertaking not to release them into U.K. waters.
We first went across the channel from Southampton to Le Harve on a Yamaha SR 250 SE U.S. custom motorcycle carrying camping and snorkelling gear and headed down to Cassis.Checked out the feasability of netting small fish and looked at the cooling system employed by 1 public aquarium.
The next year we returned in a Volkeswagon Dormobile to collect fish.I used an Austin Mini fuel pump to provide air for the transporting containers.It ran on 12 volts D.C. and I left it running at night in the campsite.The next morning a few volkeswagon owners had collected around our dormobile to inquire what the noise was and should their volkewagons be fitted with one.The fuel pump was a diaphragm pump which when run dry, provided a good supply of air to the holding tanks at very low current consumption.
Finally we returned to the U.K. with 4 x 1 inch cuckoo wrasse.We went through the "Red Light" channel because we had something to declare to customs.They couldn't get us out of there quick enough!I suppose they were after serious smugglers and we just didn't fit the bill.
Just as well actually as the 5 litre water tank for the washing sink had been filled with cheap "vino collapso" from Ain En Provence.
The fish were finally introduced to a native marine aquarium housing British cuckoo wrasse.I kept the temperature at 12.5 deg. C which suited both species.
A lot of work for only 4 fish, but learnt a few things along the way.
