>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell Howser: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS WE'VE ALL HEARD FISH STORIES, SOME OF THEM BIGGER THAN OTHERS.

BUT I GUARANTEE YOU IF THE FISH STORY WE'RE INVESTIGATING RIGHT NOW TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE, THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST FISH STORY ANY OF US HAVE EVER HEARD.

NOW LET'S SET THE STAGE.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE ON THE SIDE OF BUSY SEPULVEDA BOULEVARD HERE IN CULVER CITY.

I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF APEX AQUARIUMS, WHICH IS A TROPICAL FISH STORE THAT'S BEEN HERE ON THIS CORNER FOREVER.

AND THIS IS WHERE OUR FISH STORY TAKES PLACE, AT LEAST THIS IS WHERE IT STARTS.

AND BELIEVE ME, IT SOUNDS LIKE A WHOPPER.

OK. OUR FISH ADVENTURE BEGINS, AND HERE SITTING BESIDE THE FISH POND INSIDE OF APEX AQUARIUMS-- INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> MY NAME'S ERIC FINDLEY.

Huell: AND... >> DOUGLAS ROBERTSON Huell: DOUG.

SO IT'S ERIC-- >> FINDLEY.

Huell: AND DOUG.

>> CORRECT.

Huell: ERIC, LET'S SET THE STAGE.

HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU WORKED HERE AT APEX AQUARIUMS?

>> ABOUT 25 YEARS.

Huell: SO YOU'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME.

YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COME IN HERE LOOKING FOR FISH.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

LOTS OF PEOPLE.

LOTS.

Huell: NOW, THIS FELLOW RIGHT HERE CAME IN HERE LOOKING FOR FISH HOW MANY YEARS AGO?

>> ABOUT 12-13 YEARS AGO.

Huell: DO YOU ACTUALLY REMEMBER THE DAY HE CAME IN LOOKING FOR FISH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, WHAT'S THE STORY ON WHY YOU CAME IN HERE, DOUG?

>> WELL, IT'S FROM MY PARENTS, ACTUALLY.

MY PARENTS HAD AN AQUARIUM, AND I DECIDED I'D LIKE AN AQUARIUM, SO I CAME ACROSS THE STREET AND GOT AN AQUARIUM.

Huell: DID YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT AQUARIUMS EXCEPT THE FACT YOU HAD SEEN THE ONE IN YOUR PARENTS' HOUSE?

>> NO.

Huell: SO YOU CAME HERE 'CAUSE WHAT?

THIS WAS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ACROSS THE STREET.

Huell: AND YOU CAME IN AND SAID WHAT?

>> I'D LIKE SOME FISH.

Huell: HA HA!

SO YOU'RE USED TO PEOPLE COMING IN NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT THEY WANT OR... >> ANYTHING.

NOTHING.

THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHATSOEVER WHAT THEY WANT.

Huell: THEY JUST WANT FISH.

>> YEAH, THEY WANT FISH.

Huell: WELL, HOW DO YOU SET THEM UP?

YOU'VE GOT 50 DIFFERENT KINDS OF FISH IN HERE.

>> I GIVE THEM A TOUR.

I START OFF IN ROW 1, GO TO 2, 3, AND 4, AND SEE WHAT YOU LIKE AND TELL YOU WHAT'S COMPATIBLE AND WHAT'S NOT COMPATIBLE.

AND THEN I LET YOU MAKE YOUR MIND UP FOR--I LEAVE YOU ALONE FOR A FEW MINUTES.

I LET YOU MAKE YOUR MIND UP, AND THEN WE GO FROM WHAT YOU PICK, AND THEN I SHOW YOU YOUR CHOICES.

Huell: SO YOU KIND OF LET PEOPLE WANDER AND SEE IF THEY BOND WITH CERTAIN TANKS OF FISH, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

SEE WHAT THEY LIKE.

EVERYBODY LIKES SOMETHING DIFFERENT, SO-- Huell: DO PEOPLE BOND WITH FISH RIGHT AWAY?

THEY LIKE 'EM OR DON'T LIKE 'EM RIGHT AWAY?

>> UH, THEY SEEM TO SEE WHAT THEY LIKE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY GOTTA HAVE, THAT'S WHAT THEY END UP TAKING HOME.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, LET'S WALK AROUND HERE.

THE PLOT THICKENS.

LET'S GO OVER HERE BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE-- WE'RE KIND OF RECREATING HISTORY, THE DAY THAT YOU CAME IN HERE, DOUG.

YOU WERE WANDERING UP AND DOWN THE TANKS HERE, AND THEN YOU GOT RIGHT HERE.

AND WHAT DID YOU SEE OVER HERE, DOUG?

>> WELL, I ACTUALLY SELECTED THE MOST SHARK-LIKE FISH THAT I COULD SEE.

Huell: YOU WANTED A FISH THAT LOOKED LIKE A SHARK?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

Huell: WHAT KIND OF FISH ARE THESE?

>> THESE FISH ARE CALLED HONG KONG CATFISH.

Huell: HONG KONG CATFISH.

>> YEAH.

Huell: THEY'RE A FRESHWATER FISH?

>> FRESHWATER SHARK, YEAH.

>> AND DO MANY PEOPLE PICK 'EM JUST BECAUSE, LIKE DOUG SAID, THEY KINDA LOOK LIKE SHARKS?

>> THEY'RE A FRESHWATER FISH, SO THEY'RE THE CLOSEST THING THAT RESEMBLES A SALTWATER SHARK, SO A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE HAVE FRESHWATER FISH OVER SALTWATER FISH, SO SOME PEOPLE LIKE THE MORE AGGRESSIVE TYPES OF FISH, AND THOSE SHARKS SOMETIMES CAN ATTEMPT TO BE LIKE THAT, AND AS THEY GET LARGER, THEY REALLY END UP LOOKING LIKE SHARKS, AND YOU CANNOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE FROM FRESH OR SALT.

Huell: WOW.

DID HE GIVE YOU THIS SALES PITCH BACK THEN?

YOU REMEMBER HOW HE... >> YEAH.

ABSOLUTELY.

HE DID.

HE ABSOLUTELY GAVE ME THE SAME SALES PITCH AS HE GAVE ME JUST NOW.

Huell: OK, GOOD.

SO YOU BOUGHT ONE.

>> YES, I DID.

Huell: AND THEY'RE CALLED... >> HONG KONG CATFISH.

Huell: HONG KONG CATFISH.

NOW, WHEN PEOPLE BUY FISH LIKE DOUG DID FOR HIS FIRST AQUARIUM, DO YOU EVER TELL THEM, OR DO THEY EVER ASK HOW LONG IS THIS FISH GOING TO LIVE, HOW BIG IS IT GOING TO GET?

>> UM, I USUALLY TELL PEOPLE WHEN THEY BUY FISH, THE MORE FISH THEY BUY FOR AN AQUARIUM AND THE MORE DECORATIONS THEY HAVE IN AN AQUARIUM, THE LESS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GROW.

AND I JUST TELL THEM THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF FOODS THAT THEY EAT AND WHERE THEY COME FROM AND HOW BIG THEY CAN POSSIBLY GET, YEAH.

Huell: SO WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE THIS TROPICAL FISH STORE HERE ON SEPULVEDA FOR THE FIRST TIME, YOU'VE KIND OF BROUGHT 'EM UP TO SPEED ON HOW BIG THE AQUARIUM SHOULD BE, HOW MANY FISH SHOULD BE IN IT, HOW TO TAKE CARE OF 'EM, AND WHAT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE FISH ARE GOING TO BE.

>> EXACTLY, EXACTLY.

YEAH.

Huell: SO WHEN YOU LEFT HERE 11 YEARS AGO, YOU WERE PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT STARTING THIS NEW, FIRST AQUARIUM OF YOURS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY I WAS.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

THAT HAS SET THE STAGE.

BECAUSE THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED 11 YEARS AGO.

THE FISH STORE IS STILL HERE, YOU'RE STILL HERE, DOUG IS STILL HERE, AND THE FISH DOUG BOUGHT IS STILL HERE.

ONLY IT'S NOT RIGHT HERE, IT'S ACROSS THE STREET.

AND THAT'S THE SECOND CHAPTER OF OUR TALL FISH STORY, THE WHOPPER.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES.

THE PLOT THICKENS BECAUSE NOW WE'VE COME ACROSS SEPULVEDA FROM APEX AQUARIUMS AND DOUG, WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF YOUR PLACE OF BUSINESS HERE.

YOU RUN A--YOU DUB VIDEOTAPES HERE.

>> CORRECT.

I DO DVDs.

Huell: OK.

SO 11 YEARS AGO, WHEN YOU BOUGHT THAT FIRST AQUARIUM ACROSS THE STREET, YOU WALKED IT JUST RIGHT ACROSS HERE 'CAUSE YOU WANTED TO PUT IT IN YOUR PLACE OF WORK.

>> ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

Huell: DO YOU REMEMBER HOW BIG THAT FIRST AQUARIUM-- >> THAT WAS A 20-GALLON AQUARIUM, ORIGINALLY.

Huell: SO IT WAS JUST A LITTLE AQUARIUM.

>> YES.

CORRECT.

Huell: WITH THIS LITTLE FISH.

>> CORRECT.

Huell: DID YOU HAVE THE FISH IN THE AQUARIUM, OR JUST IN A LITTLE BAG, OR... >> HE CAME ACROSS THE STREET IN A BAG, AND I DROPPED HIM IN THE AQUARIUM, AND THEN I GOT THE NEXT AQUARIUM WHEN HE GOT TOO BIG.

Huell: HAH!

BECAUSE THE PLOT THICKENS.

THAT FIRST AQUARIUM WAS 20 GALLONS, AND THE FISH WAS IN A LITTLE PLASTIC BAG.

IT STAYED THAT WAY FOR HOW LONG?

>> MAYBE A YEAR, MAYBE 2.

POSSIBLY 2 YEARS.

Huell: AND THEN THE FISH GREW.

>> CORRECT.

Huell: AND THE AQUARIUM HAD TO GROW 'CAUSE HE HAD OUTGROWN THAT FIRST AQUARIUM.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

Huell: HOW BIG WAS THE SECOND AQUARIUM YOU GOT FOR THAT FISH?

>> 60 GALLONS.

Huell: 60 GALLONS, SO YOU TRIPLED THE AQUARIUM IN SIZE.

>> CORRECT.

Huell: AND HOW LONG DID YOUR FISH STAY IN THAT AQUARIUM?

>> I THINK ABOUT 5 YEARS.

Huell: SO NOW WE'RE UP TO 7 YEARS.

>> CORRECT.

Huell: AND THE FISH OUTGREW THE 60-GALLON AQUARIUM, AND WHAT WAS YOUR NEXT AQUARIUM?

>> 180.

Huell: 180!

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

Huell: SO YOU TRIPLED THE 60 AND MADE IT A 180.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: SO YOU'VE ENDED UP WITH AN AQUARIUM THAT'S 9 TIMES BIGGER THAN THE FIRST ONE YOU GOT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: AND THE FISH IS IN THERE?

>> HE'S IN THERE RIGHT NOW.

Huell: BOY, IS HE EVER.

OK, WE ARE BUILDING SUSPENSE BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE COME INSIDE THE STORE.

WE ARE SLOWLY GOING DOWN THE WALL AND REVEALING THE 180-GALLON TANK AND THIS HUGE HONG KONG CATFISH.

DOUG, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT LITTLE 2-INCH FISH YOU GOT 11 YEARS AGO?

>> APPARENTLY HE GREW.

Huell: THAT IS THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: HOW BIG IS THIS FISH?

AND BY THE WAY, DOES THIS FISH HAVE A NAME?

HAVE YOU NAMED IT?

>> I DID NAME THE FISH.

HE'S EDUARDO.

Huell: WHY EDUARDO?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

>> A SPONTANEOUS MOMENT.

Huell: OK. EDUARDO HAS BEEN INSIDE THIS TANK, WELL, OR SMALLER TANKS AND NOW THE BIG TANK, FOR 11 YEARS.

DID THIS TAKE YOU A LITTLE OFF GUARD WHEN HE JUST KEPT GROWING AND GROWING AND GROWING?

>> NO KIDDING.

[LAUGHING] Huell: SO, BUT YOU KEPT HIM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: SO YOU'VE GROWN ATTACHED TO HIM OVER THE YEARS.

>> CORRECT.

Huell: IS IT HARD TO TAKE CARE OF HIM?

DOES IT TAKE A LOT OF FOOD?

DOES HE TAKE A LOT OF T.L.C.?

>> ALL THE ABOVE.

>> DOES HE KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I'M NOT SURE.

Huell: DO YOU EVER TRY TO COMMUNICATE WITH HIM?

>> I DO, ACTUALLY, ON OCCASION.

Huell: AND WHAT DO YOU SAY TO HIM, AND WHAT-- >> WELL, I'LL TALK TO HIM AND I'LL ACTUALLY PET HIS FIN, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT, I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HE KNOWS.

Huell: SO HE'S JUST BEEN OUTGROWING THESE SMALLER AQUARIUMS UP TO THE POINT NOW WHERE SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE, HASN'T IT?

>> CORRECT.

Huell: BECAUSE HE'S JUST--YOU JUST KINDA GET THE VIBES THAT HE'S NOT HAPPY IN THERE ANYMORE.

>> THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

Huell: WHAT IS THAT THING ON HIS NOSE, DOUG?

>> THAT'S A CALLUS THAT HAS OCCURRED RECENTLY BECAUSE HE RUBS HIS NOSE.

I THINK HE WANTS TO GO.

ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: SO HE'S RUBBED THAT LITTLE CALLUS ON HIS NOSE JUST FROM GOING UP AGAINST THE TANK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHY THAT HAPPENED.

Huell: NOW CAN YOU TELL THAT HE'S A LITTLE STRESSED RIGHT NOW?

>> I CAN ABSOLUTELY ASSURE YOU THAT HE IS STRESSED RIGHT NOW.

Huell: WHY?

>> BECAUSE HE KNOWS THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

Huell: REALLY?

>> I THINK SO.

Huell: YOU MEAN BECAUSE OF ALL THE PEOPLE HERE, OR ALL THE ATTENTION?

>> ALL THE ATTENTION, ALL THE PEOPLE, EVERYTHING.

I THINK HE KNOWS IT'S HIS TIME TO MOVE TO ANOTHER PLACE.

Huell: IT'S MOVING DAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S CORRECT.

Huell: OK, ROBERT.

THIS IS WHERE YOU COME IN BECAUSE ROBERT'S A FRIEND OF MINE FROM YEARS BACK.

YOU SENT ME AN EMAIL KIND OF TELLING ME ABOUT THIS STORY.

HOW ARE YOU CONNECTED WITH THE STORY?

>> WELL, I CAME IN HERE TO DO A BIG DUPING JOB ONE TIME.

I HAD A BUNCH OF VIDEOTAPES THAT I NEEDED DUPLICATED FOR A CLIENT I WAS WORKING WITH, AND I SAW THIS CATFISH, WHICH AT THAT POINT WAS PROBABLY ABOUT--WHO KNOWS--MAYBE ABOUT THIS BIG.

AND AS YEARS WENT BY, I WOULD COME IN TO DO MORE JOBS AND HAVE MORE DUPLICATING JOBS, AND EVERY TIME I CAME IN THIS GUY WAS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

I WAS LIKE MY GOSH.

YOU KNOW, THIS GUY IS--HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE MOVED PRETTY SOON 'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER HE'S GOING TO SURVIVE IN THERE, YOU KNOW?

HE LOOKS A LITTLE BIT UNHAPPY.

PLUS I FELT KIND OF SORRY FOR HIM BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN DOING THESE FIGURE EIGHTS FOR 9 YEARS AND DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE COULD STOP.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HE WAS ADAPTING TO HIS ENVIRONMENT.

BUT IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO GO.

Huell: YOU JUST FELT LIKE THE FISH NEEDED A NEW HOME.

>> YEAH, I FELT--I FELT LIKE--I KIND OF ENVISIONED HIM SWIMMING FREE IN A LARGE LAKE AND JUST IMAGINING THAT MOMENT.

Huell: AND DID YOU HAVE A HARD TIME TALKING DOUG INTO DOING THIS?

>> WELL, NOT REALLY.

DOUG KNEW RIGHT AWAY, I THINK, THAT IT WAS TIME TO DO THIS, BUT DOUG'S ATTACHED TO HIM, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE ANY PET.

DOUG WAS ATTACHED TO HIS-- Huell: WELL, YEAH, HE'S BEEN A PART OF YOUR LIFE FOR 11 YEARS.

>> ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, AND IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO GIVE HIM UP.

BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

Huell: EVERY MORNING.

>> EVERY MORNING.

Huell: IT'S YOU AND EDUARDO THERE.

>> CORRECT Huell: EVERY NIGHT, IT'S YOU AND EDUARDO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: YOU FEED HIM.

>> FEED HIM EVERY DAY, 3 TIMES A DAY.

Huell: HE'S HERE WITH YOU, EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T REALLY COMMUNICATE A LOT BACK AND FORTH, HIS PRESENCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THIS ROOM.

> THAT IS CORRECT.

Huell: SO IS THIS-- >> THIS IS SAD.

SORT OF.

BUT IT'S SAD AND GOOD.

Huell: IT'S A GOOD SAD.

>> IT'S A GOOD SAD.

Huell: AND HERE TO--COME ON IN HERE BECAUSE HERE'S THE MAN WHO'S KINDA BEEN STANDING IN THE WINGS.

YOU'RE EYING THIS FISH PRETTY WELL RIGHT HERE.

>> I'M AMAZED AT HOW BIG IT IS.

Huell: WHAT--IS THIS WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

MOVE FISH?

>> NO.

THE BIGGEST FISH I'VE EVER MOVED WAS ABOUT HALF THIS SIZE.

BUT WHAT I DO IS KOI PONDS, AND WE--OUR SPECIALTY IS NON-CHEMICAL MAINTENANCE OF KOI PONDS.

SO A FRIEND OF MINE WALKED IN ONE DAY, SAW THE FISH AND TALKED TO DOUG, AND THEN DOUG WAS SAYING THAT HE WANTED TO MOVE IT, AND MY FRIEND SAYS, "I KNOW THE GUY THAT'LL DO IT FOR YOU."

SO I KIND OF VOLUNTEERED TO HELP MOVE THIS FISH.

Huell: SIGHT UNSEEN.

>> SIGHT UNSEEN.

Huell: WHEN YOU WALKED IN THE FIRST TIME AND FOUND OUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE THIS FISH, WHAT WERE YOUR IMMEDIATE THOUGHTS?

>> HOW THE HECK AM I GOING TO DO THIS?

Huell: WELL, HOW THE HECK ARE YOU GOING TO DO THIS?

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO THE FISH AND ASK HIM TO GET IN THE CAR FOR ME.

Huell: SO YOU'RE GOING TO PUT HIM IN YOUR CAR AND WE'RE GOING TO THE NEXT DESTINATION, BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT EASY, AND IT'S FAIRLY TRAUMATIC ON THE FISH.

>> YEP.

AND FISH HAVE IMMUNE SYSTEMS JUST LIKE WE DO, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY GET STRESSED OUT, IT CAN SUPPRESS THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS, AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS TRY TO MAKE THIS AS QUICK AND EASY AS POSSIBLE.

Huell: FOR EVERYBODY.

>> FOR EVERYBODY CONCERNED.

Huell: FOR DOUG, BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO DOUG WHEN THE FISH LEAVES THE BUILDING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 11 YEARS.

AND THE FISH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: AND WE'RE JUST KINDA KIDDING ABOUT THIS, BUT WE ARE SERIOUS.

THIS IS A SERIOUS BUSINESS, MOVING A FISH THIS BIG.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND IT'S A LIVING ORGANISM, AND WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT IT AND HAVE IT ARRIVE HAPPY AND SAFELY AT ITS NEXT DESTINATION.

Huell: AT ITS NEXT DESTINATION.

BOY, THIS STORY JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THE FISH FROM LOCATION NUMBER ONE TO LOCATION NUMBER 2.

WE'RE NOT SURE HOW COMPLICATED THIS IS GOING TO BE, WHETHER IT'S EVEN GOING TO WORK OR NOT, BUT WE'RE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED AND THINKING POSITIVE THOUGHTS THAT EDUARDO IS GOING TO HAVE A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL TRANSPORT.

>> CORRECT.

Huell: GOOD LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER, IN CASE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE FISH.

WE WANT VIEWERS TO BE ABLE TO CALL.

>> MY NAME IS BOB LLOYD.

MY COMPANY IS PURAVITA AQUATIC, AND THE PHONE NUMBER IS AREA CODE-- Huell: YOU BETTER BE QUIET.

PEOPLE MIGHT REALLY CALL.

>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS A FIRST.

LISTENING TO JAZZ AND FOLLOWING A FISH AT 60 MILES AN HOUR DOWN THE SANTA MONICA FREEWAY.

WE'RE HEADING WEST.

WE'RE MAKING PRETTY GOOD TIME BECAUSE WE WANT TO GET TO THE FISH'S NEW HOME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

HE'S IN THE BACK OF THE CAR RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF US.

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING SMOOTHLY.

AND IN JUST A FEW MINUTES, BARRING ANY UNFORESEEN DEVELOPMENTS, WE WILL BE ARRIVING AT THE FISH'S NEW HOME.

THIS IS VERY EXCITING.

OK, HERE IS EDUARDO IN HERE.

HE'S IN HIS LITTLE CONTAINER HERE.

WE HAVE ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION AND HE IS WAITING TO BE TRANSPORTED DIRECTLY FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR INTO HIS NEW HOME.

THINGS ARE QUIET RIGHT NOW.

>> JUST THE TWO OF YOU?

>> YEAH.

Huell: OK, HERE--OH, BOY.

BE CAREFUL.

OH, BOY.

DON'T--OH, MY GOSH.

>> YEAH, HAVE--HAVE 4 PEOPLE... Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THE FISH.

>> SET IT DOWN.

TURN IT.

Huell: OK, HERE WE GO.

OK, WE'RE BEING--HE'S BEING WHEELED.

AND NOW WE CAN GIVE IT AWAY WHERE WE ARE.

WE HAVE COME TO THE LAKE SHRINE HERE OFF OF SUNSET BOULEVARD, THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE WHICH IS RUN BY THE SELF-REALIZATION FELLOWSHIP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

Huell: BE CAREFUL.

OH, BOY.

NOW, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE HOW HE'S GONNA FIND HIS...HOW ARE WE GONNA PUT HIM IN THE WATER?

>> I THINK WE'RE-- >> WE'RE JUST GOING TO-- >> HE'S GONNA TAKE A DIVE.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU WANT AN ANSWER?

>> YOU WANNA...HERE YOU GO.

Huell: SO HERE HE GOES.

>> YOU WANNA WAIT A MINUTE?

Huell: SHOULD WE-- >> GIVE HIM A BENEDICTION?

Huell: SHOULD WE SAY GOOD-BYE?

>> LIVE LONG--LIVE LONG AND PROSPER.

Huell: SO THAT'S IT.

OFF HE GOES.

>> YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING?

>> SURE.

>> JUST WANT TO WELCOME EDUARDO TO THE LAKE SHRINE.

AND HE'S GONNA HAVE 350 BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND JAPANESE CARP, KOI.

AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, A PILGRIMAGE FOR HIM TO SPEND THE REST OF HIS YEARS.

SO WELCOME TO LAKE SHRINE, EDUARDO.

>> WHOO-HOO!

Huell: OH, WOW!

THERE HE GOES!

>> HEY, LOOK AT HIM.

Huell: OH, GOSH.

HA HA!

DOUG?

>> THAT WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL.

Huell: HOW DO YOU FEEL?

>> HA HA HA!

I FEEL VERY WELL.

I'M ABSOLUTELY ECSTATIC THAT HE'S IN THIS LOCATION RIGHT NOW.

>> SO IS HE.

>> GOT NOTHING ELSE TO SAY.

NOTHING ELSE TO SAY.

Huell: LOOK AT HIS NEW HOME.

NOW, DO YOU THINK--HOW DO YOU THINK HE'S GOING TO ADJUST TO THIS NEW LOCATION?

>> UH, APPARENTLY THE LAKE IS 15 FEET DEEP, AND SO THE WATER COLUMN HAS ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF TEMPERATURE.

AND HE'S JUST GONNA GO FIND THE AREA THAT HE WANTS TO BE AT AND ENJOY HIMSELF.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

HE'S NEVER BEEN ALONE BEFORE.

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN IN AN AQUARIUM.

>> BUT HE'S GOT APPARENTLY 350 BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF JAPANESE KOI AND, UH-- >> LOTS OF BLUEGILL AND BASS.

>> LOTS OF OTHER FISH.

TURTLES, EVERYTHING ELSE.

Huell: HOW IS HE GONNA GET HIS FOOD?

HOW IS HE GONNA FIND HIS FOOD?

YOU DON'T FEED THE FISH.

>> YES, WE DO.

WE REGULARLY FEED THE FISH AND THEY GET FISH PELLETS RIGHT FROM THAT LANDING OVER THERE.

ALL THE KOI GO THERE, AND I'M SURE THEY'RE GONNA TAKE THEIR NEW BROTHER AND SHOW HIM HOW TO GET HIS FOOD.

Huell: WOW.

>> WELL, IN ADDITION, HE'S GOT SENSORY BARBELS ON THE FRONT OF HIS, UH, ON HIS FACE.

AND HE'S VERY GOOD AT SMELLING THE WATER.

WHICH WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO ADD SOME OF THE WATER FROM THE LAKE INTO HIS NEW--INTO HIS TANK ORIGINALLY 2 WEEKS AGO.

SO HE COULD LEARN THE SMELL OF HIS NEW WATER AND-- Huell: SO HE'S ACCLIMATED TO THIS.

>> HE'S GONNA GO FIND-- Huell: WHAT DO YOU THINK HE'S DOING OUT THERE RIGHT NOW?

HE'S GOING, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE?

>> PARTY.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: OH, LOOK.

THERE HE IS!

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: YOU JUST SAW HIM.

WE JUST SAW HIM.

HE JUST CAME BACK.

HE'S SWIMMING BY LOOKING AT US.

THERE HE IS!

>> ABSOLUTELY!

LOOK AT HIM.

COOL.

ABSOLUTELY COOL.

Huell: SO HE'S ACCLIMATING VERY WELL TO LIFE OUTSIDE THE AQUARIUM.

THERE HE IS!

>> YES, THERE HE IS.

Huell: HE HADN'T HAD THIS MUCH ROOM TO SWIM IN HIS WHOLE LIFETIME.

>> NO, SIR.

Huell: OH, WOW.

LOOK.

WHEW!

OH, THIS IS SO WONDERFUL.

HE'S GONNA BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THIS LAKE.

>> HE SURE IS.

AND I WAS JUST MENTIONING EARLIER, WE'VE GOT 6 AERATORS WHICH WE RUN 24 HOURS A DAY TO GET FRESH AIR TO ALL OF THE FISH.

AND WE PUT IN ABOUT 400 POUNDS OF BACTERIA TWICE A YEAR.

AND THIS IS SO THAT THEY CAN BREAK DOWN THE SLUDGE AND, YOU KNOW, THE PLANT MATTER THAT SETTLES TO THE BOTTOM.

Huell: SO ECOLOGICALLY--OH, WOW, THIS IS SO NEAT JUST SEEING HIM.

>> LOOK AT THAT, MAN.

LOOK AT THAT.

>> HE'S SWIMMING CIRCLES.

Huell: HE'S SWIMMING CIRCLES.

HE'S USED TO THAT.

>> ABSOLUT--I THINK SO.

I THINK HE'S GONNA GET SOME LARGER CIRCLES HERE.

[HUELL LAUGHS] >> OH, MY GOSH.

>> HE'S GONNA BE...I KNOW RIGHT NOW.

I CAN JUST SEE IT.

HE'S GONNA BE GOOD.

HE'S ABSOLUTELY GONNA BE HAPPIER.

I CAN SEE IT JUST NOW.

JUST BY THE WAY HE'S MOVING.

Huell: YOU CAN TELL BY THE WAY HE'S MOVING?

>> YES.

YEAH.

I THINK SO.

I MAY BE WRONG, BUT THE WAY HE'S MOVING, I THINK HE'S ADJUSTING TO HIS NEW PLACE.

I THINK HE LOVES IT.

>> AND LIKE THE KOI, THEY'RE BOTTOM FEEDERS, SO THE CATFISH WILL GET ALONG REALLY WELL.

THEY'VE GOT THEIR WHISKERS.

THEY'LL BE HUNTING ON THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE.

AND JUST ONE OTHER POINT, AND THAT IS, WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE EDUARDO HERE, BUT WE DON'T RECOMMEND OTHERS BRINGING THEIR GOLDFISH AND WE'RE PRETTY MUCH MAXED OUT WITH OUR LAKE THE WAY IT IS RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE EDUARDO.

I'M SURE HE'LL HAVE A GOOD HOME HERE.

Huell: SO THAT'S IT.

THAT'S OUR FISH ADVENTURE.

I TOLD YOU IT WAS A WHOPPER.

WE FOLLOWED THAT FISH ALL THE WAY FROM THE AQUARIUM OUT HERE TO HIS NEW HOME.

AND I THINK THIS STORY MORE THAN ANYTHING JUST POINTS UP HOW ATTACHED WE CAN BECOME TO OUR PETS.

TO OUR FISH.

>> TO OUR CRITTERS.

[LAUGHS] Huell: TO OUR CRITTERS.

TO OUR FRIENDS.

AND, OF COURSE, NOW THAT HE'S GOT HIS NEW HOME, EVERYBODY'S INVITED TO COME OUT TO THE LAKE SHRINE OUT HERE RIGHT ON SUNSET BOULEVARD AND WALK AROUND THE LAKE AND STAND AND WATCH.

AND IF YOU SEE A FIN COMING UP AND A HAPPY-LOOKING FISH, IT'S EDUARDO.

>> THAT'S EDUARDO.

[LAUGHS] Huell: IN HIS NEW HOME.

AND A BEAUTIFUL NEW HOME IT IS.

THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

HIS NEW HOME AFTER SPENDING 11 YEARS IN A FISH TANK.

HE'S NOW IN THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL LAKE FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

A VERY HAPPY ENDING TO A WONDERFUL FISH STORY.

[BARBRA STREISAND HUMS INTRO TO MEMORIES] Streisand: ♪ MEMORIES LIGHT THE CORNERS OF MY MIND, MISTY WATER-COLOR MEMORIES OF THE WAY WE WERE ♪ ♪ SCATTERED PICTURES OF THE SMILES WE LEFT BEHIND, SMILES WE GAVE TO ONE ANOTHER FOR THE WAY WE WERE ♪ ♪ CAN IT BE THAT IT WAS ALL SO SIMPLE THEN?

OR HAS TIME REWRITTEN EVERY LINE?

IF WE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO IT ALL AGAIN, TELL ME, WOULD WE?

♪ ♪ COULD WE?

MEMORIES MAY BE BEAUTIFUL AND YET, WHAT'S TOO PAINFUL TO REMEMBER WE SIMPLY CHOOSE TO FORGET, SO IT'S THE LAUGHTER WE WILL REMEMBER, WHENEVER WE REMEMBER THE WAY WE WERE ♪ ♪ THE WAY WE WERE, HMM, HMM ♪ ♪ HMM ♪ [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--] >> LIVE LONG AND PROSPER, MY FRIEND.

>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM...