The return of the Agricultural Show is an occasion for Bryan Parkin to look back on the heyday of the annual fixture.

While there’s still plenty to see at the three-day exhibit, opening today, Mr Parkin, proprietor of the Pic a Pet pet store, recalls the particularly colourful “Ag Show” of yesteryear.

The family business contributed judging for the show’s aquatic section through the 1980s, when Pic a Pet also awarded annual cups for the best junior display.

“Back then the show had approximately 30 to 40 aquatic displays, but today we have the potential to take it to 100,” Mr Parkin told The Royal Gazette.

“It would be great to get children involved.

“It’s the children we need to work with and get some pride back into the show.”

Exhibits of fish, including salt water displays, used to go around both walls of the enclosure, as remembered by Mr Parkin’s son, Kyle, who today runs the business.

Kyle exhibited from the age of 6, winning the top junior freshwater award twice in a row.

The junior Parkin hopes his sons Ryan, 9, and Trystan, aged 7, will one day take the reins at the shop, which dates back to the 1950s and was bought by the Parkins in 1975.

The “Ag Show” itself dates back to 1843, when it was founded by Governor William Reid.

The dwindling of local agriculture and, more recently, the decline in government finances have been blamed for the more modest shows of late.

Kyle Parkin suggested part of the loss with today’s children could be ascribed to the popularity of video games. “Maybe they’re more interested in the indoors now rather than going outside,” he mused.

Fish, aquatic plants and tanks remain a booming business at the establishment, which originally stood on Cedar Avenue before moving to Victoria Street and today’s location on Queen Street.

Their popularity gives the Parkins hope that aquarium entries could one day be restored to a revamped “Ag Show”, dormant for a year but revived by private funding for 2016.

After more than 40 years in the business, Mr Parkin said pets were “in our blood”.

“We could still do it today,” he added. “We can do a lot more.”