One more good reason being a journalist

Aug. 17, heavy rains intermittently, with a painfully shy sun.

We went to the Estuarium (an aquarium) and Dauphin Island Sea Lab at Dauphin Island, Alabama to learn about how they educate the public and do research on sea lives.

At the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, we were fascinated by the dedicated young researchers and students on the wonderful things they know about the sea lives.

One discovery fascinated me (Dr. Lo) and our Web editor, D.A. James, who performed as a photographer on this occasion, is on how the researcher can determine the age of a red drum (fish) by looking at their ear bone under the microscope. The ear bone of red drum has something similar to the tree-ring of a tree. By counting the number of tree-rings the fish has, the secret of her age will be revealed. One can also know how fast they grow in the years by examining the space between the tree-rings. That means, the wider the space, the faster they grow in that year. We can see that this red drum has grown very fast in its first three to four years to reach maturity and then slow down.

Acquiring new knowledge is always an enjoyable thing. This proved one more good reason to be a journalist. You are always on to new things and knowledge … until you retire.

Ranger Web editor D.A. James listens to Crystal Hightower, technician of Dauphin Island Sea Lab, on how to count the tree-rings of the ear bone of a red drum.

By counting the tree-rings of the ear bone, this red drum is 22 years old.