The Three-Finned Spotted Horace is just about the fastest and hungriest fish in the river.
It has a voracious appetite and is always on the look-out for its next meal or even a meal between meals.
It’s sleek form and unique three fins make it one of the most easily recognisable of fish, although it’s extreme rarity means that you are unlikely to ever encounter one while fishing or out walking along the riverbank.
Beware of the Horace!
Other fish steer well clear when the Horace is about, and not only fish, but other creatures that use the water are equally wary of this most predatory of fish.
The Horace is particularly fond of dining another rare species, the Purple-Finned Gerald-Gerble. It turns out that the Gerble-Gerble shows quite a degree of intelligence in its efforts to avoid its rival. It has been observed and speculated that the Gerble-Gerble deliberately swims close to anglers in the hope that the angler will then focus on the Horace instead, which is a much greater prize catch.
The Naming of the Horace
The fish was discovered and named by the keen angler and noted poet, Horace Smashingly. Upon first sighting the fish, Smashingly named the fish after himself and then set about writing an epic 10,000 line poem about the fish.
The poem remains unpublished to this day, although it was later turned into a film by the experimental Danish filmmaker Stryangee Thring. The film, A Fish Called Horace, received its debut at the Cannes film festival in 1983. The film showing was finally abandoned after the last member of the audience walked out after the nineteenth hour. Thring later planned a directors cut, but his wife threatened to divorce him, so he shelved the project.
The Cricket Ball Incident
The Horace remained a very obscure fish until an incident during a cricket match in 1932 brought it no the attention of the newspapers.
Legendary England cricketer “Hairy” Harry Higglebottom was taking part in a charity cricket match at the village of Little Plumming. The cricket ground is one of the most picturesque in the country, with one of the sides running along the bank of the river Piddle.
Higglebottom hit a magnificent cover drive and the ball ran along the ground and into the river. Two of the fielders set off to retrieve it, but reached the bank in time to spot a Horace seizing the ball in its mouth and then setting off down stream.
The cricketers followed the fish along the bank and it looked as though the ball would be lost, until they encountered Angler Betty Pilchard was able to temporarily scoop up the fish in her landing net. The Horace spat the ball out, unfortunately knocking her hat off, which was the grabbed by the fish never to be see again. Pilchard returned to the river many times in an attempt to catch the fish, but the Horace remained elusive, as it does generally until this day.
What’s Next?
I drew some of the above cartoons during Cartoon Hour.
What’s Cartoon Hour?
Basically, it’s an hour where everyone meets on Zoom and draws at the same time (me too!). Folks can choose what they want to draw, and if they’re stuck for ideas, then I’m happy to help with some suggestions. At the end of the hour we show each other what we’ve drawn. I’ll be imparting a few cartooning tips as well.It’s a good way to get some cartooning done and also to share with fellow doodlers.If you’d like to receive more details on Cartoon Hour, simply add your name, best email address, and type “Yes!” In the message below.
