Issue : April 2002

Written by Bonnie Davis

We first came to Thailand in 1967 when my husband accepted a job with an agricultural project. He worked up-country during the week and came to Bangkok on Friday night to spend the weekend with our teenage son and me. Based at Tha Rua, a town of fascinating history on the Pasak River in Ayutthaya Province, he traveled from site to site during the week - Pak Chong, Lumnari, Takli, Chainat, Sawankaloke and others.

Every weekend we heard about the Thai farmers and villagers, their way of life and their friendliness toward him. He was often invited to share their meager meals, sometimes only rice, nam pla prik and whatever vegetables were available. Fish was a treat when it was available although some were so small when caught in the nets they were little more than fingerlings that were never given time to mature and multiply.

As Jim talked about his days up-country he repeatedly said that one day after we had returned to the United States, he wanted to send some fast-maturing freshwater fish as a gift to His Majesty the King, feeling that under His Majesty's direction they would be kept where they could safely mature before being released into rivers, lakes, dams, streams - wherever they could multiply and eventually be of help to the people.

We did send the fish, but before the finally arrived safely at Don Muang Airport the two of us discovered that fulfilling our wish wasn't as easily accomplished as we had anticipated.

The first step was to find an approved fish hatchery where the species we hoped to send were bred and hatched under inspected and approved conditions. The Virginia State Department of Fish and Wildfish provided us with the name of an approved hatchery few hours drive from our small Virginia Farm. We drove up to the hatchery one day to see it, to talk to the owner about what we wanted, ask when such fish of the proper size would be available, the cost, and not least, to learn if the owner would be willing to cooperate with us in this venture. Actually he was rather fascinated, never before having had any of his fish sent to a Head of State half way round the world. He described what containers would be needed, how many fingerlings could safely go into one container, etc. He would provide the plastic bags, pack the fish and provide the oxygen. We had to provide the styrofoam ice chests of a given size, dry ice and make all arrangements for transport to the airpost in Norfolk, Virginia and beyond - all the way to Bangkok. We told him we'd let him know.

Before taking the plans any farther we had properly to seek acceptance from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. A letter was sent to M.L. Thawisan Ladawan, Principal Private Secretary to His Majesty the King, explaining what we wished to present to His Majesty, the species to be given, the proper time for shipping them, and assuring that all expenses would be paid by us. There would be no expense whatever for His Majesty the King. All that would be required in Bangkok was for the fish to be met at the airport on their arrival and transported to where they would be raised.

An air mail letter was sent to M.L. Thawisan on June 7, 1978 and within a very few days a reply was received telling us that His Majesty the King had graciously accepted out proffered gift. M.L. Thawisan asked form size and number of containers, directions for rearing the fish and lastly, when the fish were shipped, the date, airline, flight number and expected time for arrival in Bangkok.

We bought the containers, photocopied information about the fish, talked to airlines in Norfolk, and phoned head offices of various airlines. Here was the first big problem - making a connection with no lay-overs, for one of the greatest worries was that these small fish would get over heated and die.

Finally everything had been arranged - or so we thought! However, when we went to Norfolk Airport to book the space and pay our deposit they had changed their mind about transporting live fish to a Head of State. They feared an "international incident" if the fish were dead on arrival.

Back to square one! Skipping over some of the false hopes encountered, we finally located a Pan-American Airlines manager stationed in Washington, D.C. who told us that if we were able to the fish as far as Washington, he would arrange the rest of the journey's transportation. At that time Pan-Am flew a more direct route over the pole. At this point in time, Jim said if there was no other way, we'd drive the cartons of fish to Washington ourselves to start them on their way. As it happened this wasn't necessary for we received a call from another airline at Norfolk Airport telling us that they could make connections with Pan-Am in Washington if we brought the fish to the airport. They were willing to be responsible for turning the fish over directly to Pan-Am.

Then more phone calls, more schedule checks and re-checks, before making the call to the fish hatchery to place a firm order and schedule the day for packing and transport. Labels were typed, documents and letter s photocopied to travel with the cartons of fish.

At 4 A.M. one morning in July, 1978 we drove our pick-up truck to the hatchery. The owner was waiting for us. The fish to be shipped had been separated and put in holding tanks the day before. He packed dry ice in plastic bags, placing these in the bottom of the styrofoam boxes. He counted roughly and put a certain number of fish inside another large plastic bag about half filled with water, added oxygen, and sealed them. The cartons were them sealed. He had suggested that we include twenty-five large-mouth bass for species variety and those had been added. By the time we drove out of his yard on our way to the Norfolk Airport, he had become a little bit excited himself about the venture.

	Jim with an afternoon's catch-not the same as we sent to Thailand. The only hatchery who had them refused to allow shipment overseas (was in Pensylvania) They mature to about the same size, however
	I'm our front Yard in Cheasapeake, VA. (near Norfolk, VA.) about 1975

At the airport, we drive directly to the cargo section where they were expecting us. While I went into the office to take care of the paper work and pay for the shipping, Jim oversaw the loading of the fish onto the plane. In the office the men asked permission to photocopy all of the relevant documents, wanting to have them framed and hung on the office walls because they had never before had a part in sending a live gift to a King!

From the airport we drove directly to the Western Union Office in Norfolk to send a telegram to M.L. Thawisan Ladawan. This seemed more reliable than by telephone, given the frequent difficulty to spelling Thai names. When we returned home, we telephoned the Pan-Am manager in Washington to tell him the fish were on their way. He asked us to let him know if the fish arrived safely in Bangkok.

Then we waited.
When the telegram arrived from M.L. Thawisan we learned that "five cartons of fish arrived in perfect condition" in Bangkok. Not a single fish was dead!

The letter which followed informed us that the fish were "being reared at the National Fisheries Institute in accordance with His Majesty's wishes."