Ripples Through Time - 044

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order, one per day. After I read each story I'm going to post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #110 (November 1946) - The Monster and the Mermaid!

Captain Zeb Jones exhibits a mermaid to make some money, but rivals Gooch and Harms aren't happy that he's taking away their business.

After Zeb Jones sees a fake sea-elephant on display, he decides to create his own attraction: A mermaid! The exhibit draws a lot of attention, including that of Aquaman. It also angers the guys exhibiting the sea-elephant, as it takes away their business. They decide to kidnap the mermaid, but unluckily for them, Aquaman is nearby and rescues her. The mermaid is actually Zeb's daughter in disguise, and Aquaman recommends stopping the fake mermaid show. Then Aquaman goes after the kidnappers.

This is another instance of Aquaman going on land in disguise. He wears a trenchcoat and hat. His thoughts as he enters the mermaid show are interesting: "I've explored every ocean on Earth and never have I seen a mermaid!" That seems to indicate that in the Golden Age Aquaman's world, Tritonis and its mer-people don't exist. And yet... when did Lori Lemaris first appear?

Finny Friends Report: When the mermaid is trapped under an old wreck, Aquaman summons fish to help him pull it off of her.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman isn't knocked out or captured in this one.

Quotefile: Zeb, on seeing the sea-elephant, "Arrghh... It's a stuffed whale with a fake elephant's head fitted on! A fraud! And fools pay good money to see it! Wonder much they'd give to look at a critter worth seein' -- like a mermaid..?"

Have you read this story? What do you think?