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	Vol.7, No 46, November 17, 1999
	Koi head for new homes By Jose Corado Daily Forty-Niner About 100 koi  squirmed to new homes Sunday as fish enthusiasts gathered Sunday at the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden for the 13th annual Koi Auction. The annual koi auction, which attracted more than 400 people, aims to prevent overcrowding in the garden's pond and raises money for maintaining the pond, said Jeanette Schelin, director of the garden. The garden is located at Cal State Long Beach on Earl Warren Drive nearby Residence Commons. Schelin said the auction is considered the "grand daddy" of all events at the garden. Tom Lenan, a resident of Long Beach and koi enthusiast, bought two koi fish for his home pond. "I like them because they are very relaxing animals," he said. "I like them better than dogs for a pet." In addition to the koi, more than 200 goldfish were sold at the auction. Overall, the garden collected $3,000 from koi and goldfish sales. "This is a terrific event," said Tricia Bachelor, who paid $30 for a fish that will become No. 21 in her 1-ton pond. "It introduces people to koi collecting and raises money for the garden." Schelin  said the exotic fish are admired for their physical attributes. "Koi are very loved by Japanese not only for their beauty, but also for their strength," Schelin said. "The koi fish are survivors. They live between 65 and 70 years." The pond has three varieties of koi: imperial, the fancy fins and German, which have an unusual scale pattern. "The fish are very appreciated because they seem to create a relationship with people," Schelin said. "They are very responsive animals." The Zen Nippon Airinkai Club of Southern California examined the fish for disease.  Schelin said a disease killed many koi fish about a year ago. However, that disease did not affect the koi in the garden.		Koi head for new homes   Student cheers restaurant job   College Week begins   CSULB conference helps American-Indian students   Professor to read award-winning work Free ride for famous   ATM service fees OK for banks   LETTER TO THE EDITOR Author shares experiences of racism Ice Dogs sweep Wolves   Club hockey faces familiar opponents Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.