ANNOUNCER: "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

HUELL: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND HERE WE ARE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL MORNING OUT IN THE DESERT.

ACTUALLY, WE'RE JUST A LITTLE BIT EAST OF THE TOWN OF BARSTOW IN THE NICE LITTLE COMMUNITY OF NEWBERRY SPRINGS.

NOW, THE INTERESTING AND FUN THING ABOUT THE DESERT IS YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO FIND OUT HERE.

FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S INTRODUCE OURSELVES AND LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

YOUR NAME IS?

KEN: MY NAME IS KEN.

LAST NAME IS LIU.

UH, I'M FROM THE LIU FAMILY.

I'M THE ELDEST SON IN THIS FAMILY.

WE'RE DOING KOI BUSINESS, SIR.

HUELL: KOI BUSINESS?

WE'RE GONNA GET DOWN TO THAT IN JUST A MINUTE.

THIS IS YOUR BROTHER... MU: I'M THE YOUNGER ONE.

MY NAME IS MU.

YOU KNOW, UM, I COME WITH MY DAD.

THE WHOLE FAMILY COME OVER HERE TO BREED SOME BEAUTIFUL KOI HERE.

HUELL: OK, NOW, YOU CAME OVER FROM WHERE?

MU: FROM TAIWAN.

WE COME FROM TAIWAN.

HUELL: AND WHY DID YOU COME TO NEWBERRY SPRINGS FROM TAIWAN?

THAT'S KIND OF A JUMP, ISN'T IT?

MU: UH, YES.

IN MY COUNTRY, IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO GET LAND LIKE THIS BIG, YOU KNOW?

AND MY DAD, HE HAS BEEN DOING THIS BUSINESS OVER 50 YEARS, AND, YOU KNOW, AFTER HIS-- HE RETIRED IN TAIWAN AND HE MOVED TO UNITED STATES BECAUSE HE THINKS THE PROPERTY HERE IS PRETTY GOOD AND THERE IS NO POLLUTION KIND OF PROBLEM HERE.

SO, THAT'S WHY WE PICKED NEWBERRY SPRINGS.

HUELL: HOW LONG YOU BEEN HERE?

MU: WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR 10 YEARS ALREADY.

HUELL: OH, SO YOU ALL ARE NATIVE CALIFORNIANS ALMOST.

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: NOW, HERE'S THE--HERE'S THE HEAD MAN RIGHT HERE.

YOUR NAME IS?

T.K.

: MY NAME IS T.K.

LIU.

HUELL: NICE TO MEET YOU, AND WE'VE ALREADY MET.

LET'S GET YOUR WIFE OVER HERE WITH YOU.

YOU WERE TELLING ME WHEN WE MET A FEW MINUTES AGO, YOU'RE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT YOU'RE NOW AMERICAN CITIZENS.

T.K.

: YEAH.

CITIZEN.

I'M-- THIS IS MY WIFE.

ALL OF US ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS.

HUELL: RIGHT.

AND YOU LIKE LIVING OUT HERE IN THE DESERT?

WOMAN: YES, IT'S VERY GOOD.

HUELL: NICE WEATHER.

IT'S NOT TOO HOT FOR YOU?

[T.K.

LAUGHING] KEN: 130 DEGREES.

HUELL: WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?

KEN: WELL, SOMETIMES WE HIT, UH, 130 DEGREES, SO IT'S NOT TOO HOT.

HA HA HA!

HUELL: ALL RIGHT.

NOW, LOOK.

WE GOT THE DOGS.

WHAT'S THE STORY ON ALL THESE DOGS?

KEN: WELL, THIS DOG IS-- SOMEBODY DON'T WANT IT.

WE ADOPTED HER FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THIS, TOO, IS FROM THE--FROM TAIWAN.

IT'S--ONE OF OUR FRIENDS GAVE TO US.

THEY SAY IT'S LUCKY WITH THE DOGS.

THIS ONE IS...[INDISTINCT] HUELL: YOU GOT DOGS EVERYWHERE OUT HERE.

WOMAN: YES, HE'S A HOUND.

HE'S...[INDISTINCT].

HUELL: OK.

I'LL DO THAT KNOW.

BUT WE'RE NOT--AS NICE AS THE DOGS ARE, THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE HERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT KOI.

AND WHAT'S INTERESTING, WE GOT A KOI POOL OVER HERE.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER KOI POOL OUT THERE.

WE GOT ANOTHER KOI POOL OUT HERE.

WE GOT KOI POOLS EVERYWHERE.

AND WHEN YOU FIRST STAND HERE AND LOOK AT THEM, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S NOTHING IN THEM.

THEY JUST LOOK LIKE, UH, POOLS OF BROWN WATER.

MU: RIGHT, SIR.

HUELL: BUT THERE ARE KOI DOWN THERE, AREN'T THERE?

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: LOTS OF KOI.

KEN: LOTS OF KOI.

LATER ON, YOU MIGHT SURPRISED WHEN WE SHOW YOU THOSE KIND OF BEAUTIFUL, SWIMMING, JEWELY THINGS.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET'S-- KEN: IT'S ART.

IT'S ART.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO LOOK FOR THEM BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, WE GOTTA MOVE THE DOGS.

HA HA HA!

THE DOG-- KEN: WE DON'T EAT DOG, OK?

HUELL: ALL RIGHT, I KNOW.

THE DOGS LIKE TO SIT ON THE NET.

NOW, THIS IS THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE FOR YEARS, RIGHT?

KEN: THIS VERY TRADITIONAL WAY.

WE SING OUR FISH FROM WATER.

IT'S VERY, VERY TRADITIONAL.

WE, UH, WE DO THIS KIND OF THINGS ABOUT 200 YEARS ALREADY.

HUELL: REALLY?

KEN: YES, YES.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT.

SO, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO WADE RIGHT OUT IN THE WATER?

KEN: YES, MY BROTHER--BECAUSE I'M THE ELDEST SON, SO I HAVE RIGHT STANDING ON SHORE, AND HE HAS NO RIGHT.

HE HAS TO GO DOWN THERE.

THAT'S--THAT'S TRADITIONAL, YES.

HUELL: HE'S THE LABORER.

KEN: HE'S THE LABORER.

HUELL: IT JUST TAKES ONE PERSON IN THE WATER?

KEN: UH, ACTUALLY [INDISTINCT] ABOUT 12 TO 14 FEET DEEP.

MY--MY BROTHER'S NOT THAT HIGH.

I HOPE MY BROTHER IS, YOU KNOW--YEAH, YEAH.

I HOPE MY BROTHER [INDISTINCT] SO IT WILL BE EASIER, BUT HE'S NOT.

HE'S ONLY, LIKE, 6 FEET, SO WE ONLY TAKE A PART OF THIS THING.

HUELL: AND WHAT IS YOUR DAD GOING TO BE DOING?

KEN: MY DAD'S, UH, TO, UH, MANAGE THIS--THE NET IN ORDER DON'T GET--I MEAN, DON'T GET IT TANGLED, TWISTED.

HUELL: I SEE.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

AND YOUR MOM IS SUPERVISING OVER THERE AS WELL.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] HUELL: ARE THEY DOING IT RIGHT?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] NOW, WHAT'S TO KEEP ALL THE FISH FROM GOING DOWN IN THAT PART OF THE POND?

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE TRAPPED SOME IN HERE?

KEN: BECAUSE MY FATHER FEED THE FISH EVERY DAY IN THE SAME PLACE.

KOI VERY, VERY SMART.

THEY CAN RECOGNIZE AND REMEMBER WHERE THEY'RE EATING.

HUELL: SO, THEY EAT RIGHT HERE.

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: AND YOU CAN TRAP THEM.

KEN: YEAH.

HUELL: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS IS GOING TO END UP LOOKING LIKE.

I DON'T--HOW MANY--I DON'T SEE ANY FISH.

KEN: NOT YET.

HUELL: AHH.

MU: DO YOU SEE THEM?

HUELL: NO, I STILL DON'T SEE ANY.

MU: YOU WILL.

HUELL: AHH.

AH, BEGINNING TO SEE SOME JUMPING AROUND.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] HUELL: THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

I DON'T SEE... MU: WELL, THIS--THE NET IS SO DEEP, IT'S CAUSING-- HUELL: OH, SO THE NET GOES WAY DOWN IN THERE.

MU: RIGHT.

HUELL: OH, MY GOSH!

LOOK AT ALL THE KOI!

OH!

OH, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

AND THEY REALLY COME IN ALL SIZES.

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: HOW MANY KOI DO YOU HAVE IN THIS POND ALONE?

KEN: I FIGURE WE HAVE 2,400, ALMOST 3,000 FISH IN HERE.

HUELL: IN THIS POND?

LET'S TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT THIS, TROYE.

CAN WE PULL THEM UP SO WE CAN SEE THEM A LITTLE BIT BETTER?

I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE--OH, MY GOSH.

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

ALL DIFFERENT COLORS.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S PUT THEM BACK IN.

WE DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO HAPPEN TO THEM.

I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THEM.

KEN: [INDISTINCT] BECAUSE TODAY WE, UH, WE'RE TAKING THEM OUT, AND THEN WE NEED TO SELL SOME KOI, TOO.

HUELL: OH, SO YOU'RE GONNA PUT THEM--NOW, WE'RE PUTTING THEM IN THE BUCKET.

KEN: YES.

AND THEN WE STILL-- PLASTIC BAGS.

HUELL: OH, PLASTIC BAGS.

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: THIS IS ALL VERY INTERESTING.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] KEN: SEE, I CATCH FISH LIKE THIS.

HUELL: OH, LOOK.

HA HA!

KEN: THEY LISTEN TO ME, YOU KNOW?

BUT YOU--YOU CAN'T CATCH LIKE THIS.

IMPOSSIBLE.

MU: YOU CAN HARDLY HOLD THEM.

HA HA HA!

HUELL: THEY'RE VERY SLIPPERY.

OH, LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THESE FISH.

OHH.

SO, HOW MANY ARE YOU GOING TO PUT IN THE PLASTIC BAG?

MU: OH, PROBABLY 20 OF THEM.

HUELL: 20 OF THEM.

MU: MAKE SURE THEY'RE SAFE AND EASIER TO CARRY TO THE CARRY-ALL.

WE HAVE A HOLDING TANK OVER THERE AND WE CAN PUT THEM IN VERY CLEAN WATER.

CUSTOMERS CAN EASILY SEE THEM.

HUELL: OH, MY GOSH.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE BRINGING THEM OUT.

BOY, YOU ARE THE YOUNGEST SON.

YOU HAVE TO DO ALL THE WORK!

MU: YEAH.

HUELL: THAT'S THE WAY IT WORKS, ISN'T IT?

THE YOUNGEST SON DOES ALL THE WORK.

MU: THERE IS ALSO NO EXCUSE FOR--OF THIS KIND OF WORK.

OK, WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THEM IN THE BAG.

HUELL: LOOK AT THIS, TROYE.

THEY'RE IN THERE AND WAITING TO BE MOVED TO ANOTHER TANK.

THIS IS VERY, VERY INTERESTING.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.

KEN: WELL, THIS IS OUR LIFE.

MY FATHER SPENT HIS WHOLE--WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS.

WE LIKE TO USE THIS CHANCE TO BREED NICE KOI.

LET THEM KNOW AMERICA ALSO CAN HAVE LOCAL KOI VERY, VERY NICE.

HUELL: NOW, IS TAIWAN KNOWN FOR ITS KOI?

KEN: YES, SIR.

IT'S ABOUT--I WOULD HONESTLY SAY JAPAN WOULD BE NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD.

HUELL: RIGHT, BECAUSE I USUALLY THINK OF JAPANESE-- KEN: JAPAN IS NUMBER ONE AND TAIWAN IS NUMBER TWO.

ISRAEL IS NUMBER 3.

HUELL: ISRAEL?

KEN: YES, SIR.

ISRAEL IS NUMBER 3, AND ISRAEL CONTROLS THE OLDER EUROPEAN MARKET AND THE UNITED STATES.

HUELL: WHERE ELSE?

GERMANY?

T.K.

: GERMANY.

GERMANY IS-- KEN: VERY GOOD, TOO.

HUELL: HAS KOI?

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: BECAUSE I ALWAYS THINK OF KOI AS AN ASIAN THING.

KEN: WELL, ACTUALLY, AMERICAN-- HUELL: AMERICA HAS THE BEST KOI.

KEN: YEAH, MY FATHER SAY AMERICANS LOVE KOI, LOVE BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

SO, THIS-- I WOULD SAY AMERICANS IS A HUGE MARKET, AND THE PEOPLE WILL GET TO LOVE THIS.

HUELL: NOW, HOW DID HE FIND NEWBERRY SPRINGS?

OF ALL THE PLACES IN THE--IN THE COUNTRY TO LIVE, WHY NEWBERRY SPRINGS?

KEN: NEWBERRY SPRINGS IS FIRST, NEIGHBORHOOD IS SO NICE.

PEOPLE HERE ARE VERY FRIENDLY.

WE'VE BEEN SOME PLACES THEY DON'T LIKE US, SO WE RUN AWAY ANYWAY.

BUT HERE, VERY GOOD.

AND IT'S ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE LIKE FOR PEOPLE TO LIKE US.

SECOND THING IS HERE THERE'S NO POLLUTION.

OUR NEIGHBOR, THE ALFALFA FIELD, EVERY DAY FRESH AIR, AND HERE IT'S WATER, MY FATHER TESTS.

IT'S NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTY.

HUELL: GOOD WATER.

KEN: GOOD WATER.

GOOD, GOOD WATER.

UNDERGROUND WATER IS NUMBER ONE IN CALIFORNIA.

HUELL: SO THIS IS ALL JUST NATURAL UNDERGROUND WATER?

KEN: YES, SIR.

NATURAL UNDERGROUND WATER.

AND WE PUMP THE--THE PUMP FROM HERE TO HERE.

YOU SEE?

HERE IS THE WATER COMING FROM... HUELL: THIS IS COMING RIGHT UP OUT OF THE GROUND.

KEN: YES, SIR.

DIRECTLY, IT'S A 10 HORSEPOWER PUMP FROM THE GROUND.

ANYWAY, WE NEED TO USE SOMETHING TO AERATION?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER] HUELL: UH-OH.

HE'S RUNNING OVER TO DO SOMETHING.

WHAT'S HE DOING?

WOMAN: [INDISTINCT] MUCH AIR.

THIS IS AN AIR PUMP.

HUELL: OH, LOOK!

WOMAN: YES, THIS IS LARGE AIR.

HUELL: TO AERATE THE POOLS 'CAUSE THE FISH NEED OXYGEN IN THE WATER.

WOMAN: YEAH.

YEAH.

KEN: AND TO BALANCE THE TEMPERATURE.

HUELL: WHAT?

KEN: TO BALANCE THE TEMPERATURE.

TEMPERATURE'S A VERY KEY POINT FOR FISH.

HUELL: AND IT DOESN'T GET TOO HOT FOR THEM OUT HERE IN THE SUMMER?

KEN: WELL, UH, LIKE, 10 FEET DEEP, THE WATER HAVE 10 DEGREES DIFFERENCE FROM THE SURFACE.

SO, WE USE THIS AERATION TO ALSO AGITATION FROM THE--DOWN BELOW, THE WATER COME UP TO LET THE HOT WATER GO DOWN, AND THEN THE FISH WILL BE VERY HEALTHY.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT, ENOUGH OF THE WATER.

LET'S SEE THE FISH.

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: BECAUSE I'LL TELL YOU, YOU THINK YOU'VE SEEN FISH SO FAR.

WHEN YOU GO IN THIS LITTLE SHED DOWN HERE, YOU HAVE SOME AMAZING TANKS OF FISH.

THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

AND HERE WE GO.

KEN, WE'RE IN THE TANK AREA NOW, AND WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO FOR US?

KEN: SIR, I WILL SHOW YOU HOW GOOD I'M--MY SKILLS.

HOW PROFESSIONAL I AM.

I USE MY BELLY HAND TO CATCH THE FISH FOR YOU.

THIS IS A LONGFIN KOI YOU JUST SAW THAT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL.

SO, I USE MY BARE HANDS TO CATCH FOR YOU.

HUELL: YOU CAN CATCH THAT FISH WITH... KEN: YES, SIR.

COME ON, BABY.

HUELL: OH!

KEN: COME ON, BABY.

HUELL: LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS FISH.

KEN: THIS IS ABOUT 30 INCHES, FISH.

HUELL: AND HOW MANY POUNDS?

KEN: IT'S ABOUT 6 TO 8 POUNDS.

HUELL: WOW.

NOW, LET'S WALK AROUND HERE BECAUSE LOOK.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL TANK OF KOI OVER HERE.

THOSE AREN'T AS BIG AS THE ONES WE JUST SAW, BUT BOY, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

KEN: WE HOME BREED THESE THINGS.

WE, YOU KNOW, IF THE PEOPLE KNOW KOI, THEY--THEY KNOW HOW DIFFICULT AND HOW LONG WE SPEND OUR TIME TO FOLLOW THE BLOODLINE AND WE CAN PRODUCE THIS FISH BY OURSELF.

HUELL: THE BLOODLINE?

KEN: IT'S IMPORTANT.

IT'S NOT IMPORT FISH.

WE IMPORT THEIR BREEDER, THEIR MAMA AND PAPA, AND WE BREED.

THEY WAS BORN IN THE UNITED STATES.

HUELL: WOW.

KEN: LOCAL FISH.

HUELL: SO, A LOCAL FISH.

KEN: LOCAL.

HOMETOWN--HOMETOWN FISH.

HUELL: OH!

LOOK AT THESE YELLOW ONES.

THESE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

KEN: YES.

HUELL: NOW, ARE THOSE RARE?

KEN: UM, WELL, IF YOU TALK ABOUT THIS KIND OF YELLOW OGON, ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, THEN YOU HAVE TO PAY THE SAME WEIGHT OF THIS FISH WITH GOLD, AND THEN YOU CAN BUY THIS KIND OF FISH.

HUELL: WITH GOLD?

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: THEY WERE THAT EXPENSIVE?

KEN: VERY EXPENSIVE 20 YEARS AGO, BUT RIGHT NOW, SINCE WE BREED A LOT OF THIS KIND OF FISH, SO THEY'RE PRICE GOING DOWN.

DON'T BE SCARED.

YOU CAN COME TO MY PLACE WITH A VERY FAIR PRICE TO GET THIS KIND OF FISH.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

HUELL: HA!

NOW HERE'S YOUR BROTHER OVER HERE.

MU: HI.

HUELL: YOU'RE WORKING ON... MU: THESE FISH THERE WE JUST NET OUT, YOU KNOW?

AND THEY WERE IN MUDDY WATER, SO RIGHT NOW I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THEM ONE OF EACH THROUGH... HUELL: AND YOU'RE PUTTING THEM-- OH, LOOK, PUTTING THEM RIGHT IN THE TANK HERE.

MU: SO PEOPLE CAN EASILY SEE THEM, HOW THE QUALITY IS, AND MAKE THEIR DECISION.

HUELL: SO EACH ONE OF THESE-- OH, MY GOSH, LOOK AT THIS ONE OVER HERE.

YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL TANK OVER THERE.

MU: YEAH.

THEY'RE ALL LOCAL-BRED FISH, YOU KNOW?

EVERYBODY CAN AFFORD IT.

AND MOST PEOPLE THINK, KOI, THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THEM, BUT ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE, WE JUST TRY TO LET EVERYBODY HAVE THIS KIND OF HOBBY, AND EVERYBODY CAN BUY THE KOI, AND EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY THE KOI.

HUELL: HOW TOUGH ARE THE KOI?

ARE THEY TOUGH FISH?

MU: NO, THEY ARE--WELL, THEY ARE TOUGH, YOU KNOW, BUT-- HUELL: I MEAN, Y'ALL HAVE BEEN GRABBING THEM AND--AND MOVING THEM AROUND.

HOW TOUGH ARE THEY?

KEN: THE KOI ARE VERY TOUGH FISH.

THEY COME FROM THE CARP, SO SIR, IF YOU GO TO LAUGHLIN, YOU SEE THOSE KIND OF FISH, CARP, THERE.

THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH TOUGH, YOU KNOW?

HUELL: SO KOI WILL SURVIVE AFTER YOU BUY THEM AND TAKE THEM HOME.

KEN: EVEN WITH AQUARIUM I WOULD SAY.

AQUARIUM IS PERFECT FOR KOI BECAUSE YOU PUT LIKE A 3-INCH KOI INSIDE, A COUPLE OR ONE OR TWO MONTHS, THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH HAPPY.

LIKE A SUBMARINE, THEY SWIM VERY FAST, AND THEN THEY DON'T EASILY DIE LIKE A GOLDFISH.

HUELL: WELL, HOW LONG WOULD A KOI LIVE?

KEN: WELL, THE OLDEST ONE THAT I KNOW RIGHT NOW, THE RECORD IS 175 YEARS OLD.

HUELL: OH, MY GOSH.

KEN: SO WHAT DO YOU THINK, SIR?

HUELL: IS THAT IN JAPAN?

KEN: YES, SIR.

YEAH.

SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY WITH A MICROSCOPE SEE THE SCALE AND TELL THE AGE.

SO WE HAVE SOME FISH THERE AROUND 20 YEARS ALREADY.

HUELL: YOU HAVE MORE FISH THAN THIS?

KEN: YES, SIR.

WE GOT LOTS OF FISH.

HUELL: HOW MANY FISH DO YOU HAVE?

KEN: UH, RIGHT KNOW, IF YOU WANT ME TO SAY, LIKE, WITH THE FINGERLING, THE SMALL BABY JUST COMING UP, LATER IF YOU WANT I CAN SHOW YOU--VERY, VERY SMALL.

WAS JUST BORN ONE DAY THAT KIND OF KOI.

IF PLUS THAT TOGETHER, WE TALK ABOUT HALF A MILLION.

HUELL: HALF A MILLION?

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: AND I'M JUST LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER AT THESE WHITE-SILVER KOI OVER HERE.

KEN: [INDISTINCT] WHITE KOI.

WE LOVE THEM VERY MUCH.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU DO THE KOI POND, JUST LIKE YOU PAINT YOUR OWN-- LIKE YOU PAINTING, YOU PAINT YOUR PAINTING LIKE YOU DRAW PAINT.

AND THEN YOU PUT A KOI, THAT MEANS IT DEPENDS ON YOU WHAT KIND OF COLOR YOU WANT TO LET YOUR KOI POND TO SHOW UP.

YOU KNOW, SO ACTUALLY YOU ARE THE ARTIST.

YOU ARE THE PAINTER.

YOU DECIDE WHAT--SO WE NEED ALL KINDS OF COLOR, SEE, LIKE THIS SILVER-- HUELL: WHITE, SILVER, ORANGE, YELLOW... KEN: GOLD [INDISTINCT] AND METALLIC, DIAMOND SCALE, AND BLUE, AND ALSO HAVE GREEN KOI, TOO.

YOU KNOW, SO YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF COLORS, SIR.

HUELL: NOW SUE HAS BROUGHT US OVER TO THIS TANK TO SHOW US A VERY SPECIAL KOI.

SUE: YES.

HUELL: WHAT IS IN HERE, SUE?

SUE: TANSHO.

THIS IS A TANSHO.

MU: TANSHO.

HUELL: TANSHO.

MU: THAT MEANS JUST LIKE A JAPANESE FLAG.

THERE ARE RED SPOTS ON THE HEAD ONLY.

HUELL: OH!

SO--OH, THEY'RE SILVER, THEY'RE WHITE FISH WITH THAT ROUND-- MU: RIGHT, AND THE ROUND SPOT HAS TO BE ON THE RIGHT PLACE.

THAT'S THE HEAD.

IF THERE IS ANOTHER RED SPOT ON THE BODY, THAT WOULD MAKE THE VALUE GO DOWN.

HUELL: SO THESE ARE THE MOST EXPENSIVE YOU'VE GOT.

MU: WELL, PEOPLE--THAT'S THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST UNIQUE KOI IN THE KOI WORLD.

HUELL: REALLY?

MU: RIGHT.

EVERY YEAR WE ONLY HAVE LIKE A COUPLE OF THEM FROM LIKE HALF A MILLION FISH.

HUELL: REALLY?

MU: SO THIS IS--MY MOM AND MY DAD WANT TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW UNIQUE THEY ARE AND HOW PRETTY THEY ARE.

HUELL: SO YOU'RE VERY PROUD OF THESE FISH.

LOOK, HE'S VERY PROUD.

VERY PROUD.

T.K.

: YES, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HUELL: BOY, THE DOGS BARK WHEN A CUSTOMER DRIVES UP, DON'T THEY?

KEN: YEAH, 24 HOURS TO WATCH US, SO WE FEED THEM EVERY DAY WITH CHINESE FOOD.

NO, NO, PEDIGREE, I'M SORRY.

HUELL: NOW LISTEN, HOW DO THE DOGS GET ALONG WITH THE FISH?

KEN: WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOVE FISH, THEY LOVE FISH, TOO.

HUELL: BUT I MEAN DO THEY BOTHER THE FISH IN THE PONDS?

KEN: NO, SIR.

NO, SIR.

THEY PROTECT OUR FISH.

IF A BIRD LIKE A HERRING, WE CANNOT SHOOT THEM, AND THE DOGS COME IN.

THEY'RE CHASING THEM AUTOMATICALLY.

HUELL: REALLY, AWAY FROM THE KOI?

KEN: YES, SIR.

THEY KNOW WHY-- WHY WE NEEDED THEM THERE.

HUELL: ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE WALKING INTO ANOTHER WHOLE SECTION.

THIS IS AMAZING BACK HERE.

WE GOT A GROUP OF PEOPLE HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR KOI?

WOMAN: YES, I AM.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE, BUT IT'S A LITTLE OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE.

HUELL: NOW, ARE YOU A KOI COLLECTOR?

WOMAN: YES, I AM.

HUELL: HOW MANY KOI DO YOU HAVE?

WOMAN: OH, 60-PLUS.

HUELL: NO.

WOMAN: YES.

HUELL: SO IT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD.

WOMAN: IT DOES, AND NOW MY HUSBAND'S GONNA KNOW HOW MANY.

[ALL LAUGH] HUELL: HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW MANY YOU GOT.

WOMAN: NO.

HUELL: SO ARE YOU HERE LOOKING FOR FISH TODAY?

WOMAN: I CAN'T COME WITHOUT BUYING ONE.

HUELL: LOOK IN HERE, TROYE, AT THESE FISH.

NOW, THESE ARE BIG FISH.

WOMAN: THEY'RE BIG AND THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

HUELL: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS AT HOME IN YOUR COLLECTION?

WOMAN: UH, A LITTLE BIT SHORTER, NOT AS MUCH BODY.

ABOUT 24 INCHES ARE MY LARGEST.

HUELL: HAVE YOU SEEN THOSE FISH WITH THE CIRCLE ON THE HEAD, THE ONES THAT ARE SO FAMOUS?

WOMAN: YES.

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

HUELL: DO YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE?

WOMAN: I DID HAVE.

IT LIKED TO JUMP.

IT JUMPED OUT OF THE POND, AND THAT WAS IT.

HUELL: OH, HA!

A SAD KOI STORY.

DO YOU COLLECT KOI, TOO?

WOMAN 2: NO, I DON'T.

I JUST COME ALONG WITH MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

HUELL: WHEN SHE'S LOOKING FOR KOI.

WOMAN 2: WHEN SHE'S LOOKING FOR KOI.

HUELL: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, YOU CAN'T MISS THE KOI IN HERE.

WOMAN 2: NO.

HUELL: WHAT'S THE STORY ON THIS ONE?

KEN: THIS ONE, WHY WE PUT IT HERE, BECAUSE SHE'S A VERY NICE FEMALE.

WE THINK SHE IS A NICE BREEDER, AND SHE GOT A VERY HUGE POTENTIAL TO TURN OUT TO BE AN EXCELLENT BREEDER.

YEAH, SO WE PUT HER HERE.

THIS FISH ONLY 4 YEARS OLD, BUT ALREADY... HUELL: OH, THERE YOU GO.

CAN YOU PICK THAT ONE UP?

THAT ONE'LL FIGHT YOU.

THEY FIGHT YOU, DON'T THEY?

KEN: YES, SIR.

IT'S FULL OF EGGS RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS FISH ALREADY 26 INCHES BUT ONLY--IT'S YOUNG, 4 YEARS OLD.

SO NEXT YEAR IT'LL TURN ABOUT TO BE HUGE, 30 INCHES PROBABLY.

WE HOPE SO.

HUELL: SO YOU HAVE THEM SEPARATED BY MALE AND FEMALE.

WHY DO YOU HAVE THEM IN DIFFERENT TANKS?

KEN: WELL, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE A HUMAN BEING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER... MU: THEY CAUSE TROUBLE.

KEN: THEY CAUSE TROUBLE AND THE FOOLING AROUND, SO WE CONTROL THAT, SIR.

HUELL: WOW!

[ALL LAUGHING] AL RIGHT, SO THESE ARE THE FEMALES OVER HERE.

KEN: YES, SIR.

THESE ARE ALL FEMALE HERE.

HUELL: SO YOU'VE GOT ABOUT 10 OR--THEY'RE ALL FULL OF EGGS RIGHT NOW.

KEN: YES, THEY'RE READY.

THEY'RE WAITING FOR-- HUELL: AND THEN RIGHT OVER HERE, YOU'VE GOT THE BOYS OVER HERE.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THE GIRLS.

KEN: WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY-- PROBABLY YOU CAN TELL THE SIZE IS A LITTLE BIG DIFFERENT.

IN THE NATURAL WORLD, FEMALE ALWAYS BIGGER THAN THE MALE.

HUELL: BOY, THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL.

KEN: AND I TELL YOU WHAT, MALE ALWAYS PRETTIER THAN THE FEMALE.

HUELL: SO THE FEMALES ARE BIGGER, AND THE MALES ARE PRETTIER.

KEN: YES, SIR.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

HUELL: HA!

THAT'S INTERESTING.

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: NOW, DO WE HAVE--WHAT'S IN THIS TANK OVER HERE?

KEN: RIGHT NOW WHAT YOU SEE IS THE VERY TRADITIONAL WAY WE'RE BREEDING.

SEE, WE USE THESE BRANCHES MY FATHER CUT ONE BY ONE LIKE THIS.

AND THEN RIGHT NOW UP HERE, FULL OF EGGS AND THE FISH.

HUELL: OH, THESE ARE ALL EGGS!

KEN: AND ACTUALLY, IF YOU SEE CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE THE EYES RIGHT NOW, TWO EYES.

HUELL: WHOA.

KEN: SO THEY COME IN LIKE-- YOU SEE, THERE'S A BABY.

COME UP!

HUELL: LOOK AT THIS TANK.

IT'S FULL OF THESE, UH, THESE ARE CUT FROM RIGHT HERE IN NEWBERRY SPRINGS?

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: AND THIS IS THE WAY HE DID IT IN TAIWAN.

KEN: YES.

AND THIS IS THE WAY THEY DID IT IN JAPAN.

THIS IS THE WAY THEY DID IT 200 YEARS AGO.

T.K.

: [INDISTINCT] HUELL: JUST THE-- KEN: JUST WAS BORN.

MY FATHER SAYS IT JUST WAS BORN.

HUELL: OH, SO IT'S HARD TO SEE THEM, BUT YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THEM IN THERE.

T.K.

: [INDISTINCT] KEN: 3 HOURS, THE BABY.

HUELL: WOW.

NOW, HOW OLD ARE KOI?

HOW MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS DO THEY GO BACK?

KEN: WELL, IF--FOR MY CONCERN, I KNOW WE CAN TRACE BACK IN TANG DYNASTY.

TANG DYNASTY IS TO CHINESE--TANG DYNASTY IS ABOUT 2,500 YEARS AGO.

HUELL: REALLY?

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: AND HAVE THEY ALWAYS HAD A SPECIAL KIND OF SIGNIFICANCE IN RELIGION AND MYTH AND--HOW DO THEY FIT INTO THE CULTURE?

KEN: WELL, IN THAT MOMENT, ONLY FOR KING AND NOBLEMEN.

THEY SEE SOME NOT REALLY LIKE THIS.

BECAUSE OF THE MUTATION, IT'S NOT A STAR YET.

THEY ONLY CATCH SOME RED OR SOME BLACK ONES FOR WATCH, FOR--THEY LIKED PONDS IN THAT MOMENT, TOO.

HUELL: THEY LIKED WHAT?

KEN: THEY HAVE A BACKYARD POND LIKE-- HUELL: OH, THEY HAD A POND, BUT IT WAS ONLY FOR THE NOBILITY BACK THEN.

KEN: YES, SIR.

HUELL: AND THE FISH WERE MUCH SMALLER AND NOT AS COLORFUL AS THEY ARE NOW THAT THEY'VE BEEN BRED AND INBRED LIKE YOU'VE DONE.

KEN: EXACTLY, SIR, EXACTLY.

HUELL: BUT THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED SPECIAL FISH.

KEN: YES, SIR.

ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED A VERY, VERY SPECIAL FISH IN THE WORLD.

HUELL: AND WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION OF THE PEOPLE WHO'VE COME OUT HERE AND SEEN THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME?

HOW DOES ANYBODY FIND OUT ABOUT THIS PLACE?

YOU'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE OUT HERE!

KEN: WE PUT AN ADD IN "KOI USA," AND THE CUSTOMER COMES HERE AND TURN OUT TO BE OUR FRIENDS.

AND THEN FIRST THE SIGHT, THEY SEE THE KOI, THEY GO WHOA, AND THEY ALL LOVE THIS.

AND WE PUT UP OUR WEBSITE RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WWW.KOIFARM.COM, VERY EASY.

HUELL: OH!

THAT'S EASY TO KNOW.

AND YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT WHEN CUSTOMERS COME OUT HERE, SOMETIMES THEY STAY OUT HERE 8 HOURS LOOKING AT KOI BEFORE THEY CHOOSE ONE.

KEN: BECAUSE THEY LOVE KOI.

THEY LOVE KOI.

THEY NEED TIME TO DECIDE WHICH ONE THEY'LL REALLY BRING BACK.

BECAUSE TO BRING BACK HOME, IT'S JUST LIKE YOU'RE MARRIED WITH HER OR HIM.

YOU HAVE TO SEE HIM EVERY DAY.

SO WHEN YOU MAKE THE DECISION, MAKE IT RIGHT.

HUELL: THESE COLORS ARE BEAUTIFUL, THE WAY THEY'RE SPLASHED ACROSS THE TOP AND THE SIDE OF THE FISH.

KEN: WELL, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY THE COLOR IS VERY IMPORTANT.

IT'S THE FIRST THING.

WE ALWAYS PICK UP THE VERY GOOD COLORED FISH TO BREED TO GET THE VERY, VERY NICE BABIES.

THE FIRST THING.

THE SECOND THING, IF YOU WATCH, THIS FISH, EVERY FISH, THEY'RE LIKE FINGERPRINTS.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PATTERN.

HUELL: YEAH, NO TWO PATTERNS ARE THE SAME.

KEN: NO SAME FISH.

THAT'S WHY PEOPLE COME HERE.

THEY HAVE TO SPEND A LONG TIME TO PICK OUT THEIR FISH BECAUSE EVERY FISH IS DIFFERENT.

HUELL: WELL, THAT'S BEEN OUR DAY OUT HERE IN NEWBERRY SPRINGS.

AND WHAT A WONDERFUL DAY IT'S BEEN WITH THE LIU FAMILY.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU FOUND A NEW HOME HERE IN CALIFORNIA.

T.K.

: YEAH.

HUELL: CONGRATULATIONS.

KEN: THANK YOU, SIR.

APPRECIATE IT.

HUELL: CONGRATULATIONS.

MU: THANK YOU.

HUELL: WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS YOU'VE PULLED OUT HERE?

MU: THIS IS ONE OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS--MIMI.

MIMI LIU.

KEN: MIMI LIU.

MIMI LIU.

NOT LUCY LIU, MIMI LIU.

HUELL: NICE TO MEET YOU.

SUE: THANK YOU.

HUELL: WE DIDN'T EVEN BRING UP THE FACT THAT YOU ALSO SELL PIGEONS HERE, CARRIER PIGEONS, HOMING PIGEONS.

HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE?

KEN: 250 OF THEM.

HUELL: 250.

KEN: YES.

HUELL: OF COURSE, THAT PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE NUMBER OF KOI YOU HAVE HERE.

KEN: WELL, IT CANNOT COMPARE, BUT WE PICK UP THE BEST BLOODLINE IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

AND WE TRY TO KEEP THIS BLOODLINE, AND WE TRY TO KEEP THIS SPORT.

AND WE THINK THIS IS A VERY, VERY NICE AND NOBLE SPORT.

HUELL: OH, THE PIGEONS.

KEN: YES, SIR.

PIGEONS ARE GOOD SPORT.

HUELL: WOW.

YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING OUT HERE.

THIS IS GREAT.

AND IT MUST MAKE YOU FEEL WONDERFUL TO DO THIS WITH YOUR FAMILY.

KEN: WE'RE SO PROUD, YES.

MY FATHER GIVE US--AND MY PARENTS, MY MOTHER GIVE US THIS KIND OF A CHANCE TO DO THIS.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, PUTTING OUR-- YOU KNOW, WE REALLY THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY MUCH.

HUELL: YEAH, PUTTING--WORKING WITH YOUR MOM AND DAD.

MU: YEAH, IT'S DIFFERENT.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST FEEL FULL OF THANKS TO THEM, YOU KNOW-- HUELL: EVEN THOUGH, AS THE YOUNGEST, YOU HAVE TO DO ALL THE WORK.

MU: WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER TO ME.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF A GOOD ENOUGH EXERCISES TO ME.

BUILD UP MY BODY.

IT'S GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] HUELL: WELL, NICE TO MEET YOU ALL.

THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY.

KEN: THANK YOU SIR.

HUELL: A WONDERFUL DAY.

GOOD-BYE.

MU: MIMI, SAY BYE-BYE!

HUELL: GOOD-BYE, MAMA.

SUE: THANK YOU.

HUELL: HERE ARE THE DOGS.

WE GOT THE PIGEONS.

WE GOT THE KOI.

ALL'S RIGHT IN THE WORLD OUT HERE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DESERT.

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL DAY AND SEEN SOME MAGNIFICENT KOI.

[DOG BARKS] [INDISTINCT CHATTER] ANNOUNCER: "VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.