The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-06-12
From Mc Boston Times.
DOES 4 FISH THINK

People generally would say that fish have no
souls. they have 10 souls, they haze 10 minds,
for minds and souls are s,nonon.ous terms, in GER
iain uses of the words. lf;hey have no minds they
cannot think. Therefore, upon the hy pol!icsis that
fish have no souls, they canliot think. Eut,as we
intended to demonstrate, fishes do think, ergo they
have souls.
It is clear that shad mus, ,hin! when he is s,rug
Cling to jump, swim or leap, up perpendicular
fall Of ten fee, high. We have seen the unhappy
creatures try that experiment ofen at the Canal
Mills in licllerica. a rush would be made at the
first attempt, of four or five feet and after mighty
spashing and weighing in the water, the dlscomlli-
ted shad would tumble back and 90 down the edd,
10 stop and think. Having waited, rested and con-
sidcfed the matter over, another start would be
made, with a more powerful rush that would carry
him up eight feet, but std not FAR enough. Again
he took tine for dclibcraion and rest, and thinking
of the difficulty Of his POSITION, he made II grand
effort and went over, wc we, aud half dozen
other boys, shouted and clapped our hands at his
triumph,
1t is clear as any fac, in philosophy, tia, the slrd
made sort of mathematical calculations aud pro-
poroncd his power to the distance. Finding thai
II CERTAIN nunber OF wggics of his tail would not
carry him up the fall, he increased them till he
accomplished his beet. Some philosophers call
this instinct, but we IRE inclined TO regard it Us
thought and calculation derived from experience
VIVA, more can II ihinaing man 90;
We have sat for hours on sunny morning I'M
der the willows that formed the margin Of Il pond +,
to see the gold fishes make love, and rub their
bright sealed sides together, lrisking and sporting
with all the ectasy Of young masters and misses
This implies ieeIing-nel mere physical feeling.
but the feeling of affection, which springs from
thought. The shooting aud twirIiig around in the
WATER by the male, WAS e,dently Il preconcerted
piece Of vanity, to win the love Of one whom he
wanted for mate and the COY, graceful move
ments Of the female were evidently designed 10 al
tract the attention of her iclh, beau, and
show of the perfection Of her form. Sometimes
he would pretend 10 gallant with other danIsels
Of The lake, but her jealous feelings induced
her to make one Of the party, nnd drive them of
or coaN him uaay and all this appeared. to be
dcne with much calculation, nice observation, feel
ing and iorelought. Therefore, we must 81, thu,
fshe, Miik.
ia picherel makes dash alier sinner. the un-
happy victim will Jump clear out of water to avoid
him. But the pickcrc thinks he will get good
supper and the sinner thinks he will get clear il
h. can. If trout bites at murderous nock-Hy
made out Of birds feathers, he thinks it good
mouihlOl or he would not touch il and though he
may be cheated by the art Of man, that proves
nothing, for men are cheated by men as well AZ
fishes. After the sh has taken the bait what does
he Think
"AsfOm sninc rock that ovcrhargs the lO0d
The silent fisher casts tn il si,.Ciis food,
with fnndiul care he waits the finn, prize,
Aud sudden ilits IL edi, erlng to the Skies
rOrE's lIUaEI..
What does the scaly beauty. OF inny monster
tllink them An eel will hang 10 bob when he il
not obliged to. He thinks it good ncrscl. which
some one il irving TO steal from him, aud his OBJ
s,inacy won't let go. dog fish as soon as he comes
up will snap at your finger and try to bite lie
thinks lie has been badly used, and liz power