MARION — During a Marion Natural History Museum program, children not only indulged their curiosity and desire to explore nature, but also became pretty impressive identifiers and talliers. 

The group met at the Harbormaster’s Beach on Sept. 25. The children caught and counted 278 silversides, 14 mummichogs, 1 pipefish, 15 glass shrimp, 10 moon jellies, 1 sea nettle and 3 sea robins.

There were many other larger fish that the children were unable to identify because of distance. The children decided that the water quality must be clean to support such a wide diversity of animals.