Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-05-18
A NEW FISH STORY.

An article, last summer, went the rounds
of the papers, giving an account of little
girl at Rocky Nook, in bingham, who had
succeeded in tanning some fish ia pond, so
that they would come at her call and feed
out of her hand The following story rath-
er beats that:
At meeting of the Liverpool Literary
and Philosophical Society, some most extra
ordinary statements, relating to the instinct
of the brute creation, were made BY visi-
tor, one Dr. Warwick. He said that when
he resided in Durham, the seat of the Earl
Of Stamford and Warrington, he was walk
ing one evening in the park, and came to a
pond where fish, intended for the table, were
temporarily kept. He took particular no
tice of fine pike, of about six pounds
weight, which, when it observed him, dart
ed hastily away. In so doing it struck its
head against tender hook in post, (there
being several in the pond, placed there to
prevent poaching,) and as it afterwards APP
peared, fractured its skull, and turned the
optic nerve on one side. The agony evin-
ced by the animal was most horrible 1t
rushed to the bottom, and boring its head
into the mud, whirled itself round with such
velocity that it was almost lost to the sight
for short Interval. 1t then plunged about
the pond, and at length threw itself CON-
petely out of the water on to the bank
He (the doctor) went and examined it, and
found that very small portion of the brain
was protruding from the fracture in the skull
He carefully replaced this, and with small
silver tooth pick, raised the indented portion
of the skull The fish remained still for a
short time, and then he put it again into the
pond. 1t appeared at first a good deal re-
lieved, but in few minutes it again darted
and plunged about until it threw itself out
of the water a second time. A second time
DIR. Warwick did what he could to relieve
it, and again put it into the water. 1t con
tinued for several times to throw itself GU
of the pond, and with the assistance of the
keeper the doctor made kind of pillow fo
the fish, which was then left in the pond t,
t its fate. Upon making his appearance a
! the pond on the following morning, the pix,
came towards him to the edge of the water
! and actually laid its head upon his feet. Tn,
; doctor thought this most extraordinary, blu
he examined the 6sh's skull, and found j
going on all right. He then walked back
wards and forwards along the edge of tn
pond for some time, and the fish continue,
I to swim up and down, turning whenever h
5 turned but being blind on the wounde'
, side of its skull, it always appeared agita
/ ted when it had that side towards the bank
! as it could not then see its benefactor.
: On the next day he took some youn,
D friends down to see the fish, which came t
. him as usual, and at length he actual
: taught the pike to come to him at his wits
tie, and feed out of his hands. With 9th
= er persons it continued as shy as fish usual
S ly are. He Or. WARWICK thought this
: most remarkable instance Of gratitude in
e fish for benefit received, and as it Away
, came at his whistle, it proved also what h
i, had previously, with other naturaists, dis
= believed, that fish are sensible to sound