Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-11-02
A Hum0rist on the Flnnv Tribe

It is an almost everyday sight to see
the boys catching fish, but vet not one
lad in thousand has ever given thought
to the wonderful construction of the finny
tribe. At the outset Of this subject it
| might be remarked that no fish has single
bone too many. You might think he
| has, especially when you have perch for
dinner, but every little bone was put
therel byllnature for Especial purpose.
Take away handful of bones from the
average fish and he would die in less
than week.
Bones, however, have very little to do
with fish, and great deal less to do
with catching him. Let us draw your
attention to the eyes, in the first place.
They are so placed that the fish can see
bob tailed steamer coming up the river,
and boy on the bridge behind him at
the same time. But fol- this fact the boy
would either catch him with a dip-net
made of an old hoop-skirt, or the steamer
would run over him. By simple roll
OF his eye, fish can take in view from
all sides at once, and you can't pass a
canoe off on him for saw-log. IF the
fish could see only ahead, his tail would
be grabbed at every hour in the day. If
he could see only behind, he'd have to
wear a sheet iron protector for his nose.
As!it is, he'll dodge stone from one side
! and smell of a root on the other at the
same motion.
The mouth of the fish is provided with
! STEAMERS called gills. But for this he'd
have stomach full of sawdust all the
year round. Without the gills his mouth
would be open great share of the time,
but with them he keeps his jaws together
and has no opinions to force upon his
fellowfnnies. The gills Of fish may be
compared with the nose of man, even
in color, but most Of them are a great
deal better set on.
It Was evidently designed by nature
that fish should live Under water. This
is why they take on so when hauled out,
strung on willow and carried around
over boys shoulder. The bladder of g
fish plays an important part in his whoop-
ing around under the surface of mill
pond. By sucking in or expelling air he
can rise to the surface to grab fly, or go
to the bottom to attend convention OF
suckers
The every day habits Of the fish are
very interesting, and are not generally
known. He is a very early riser. You
may think you can get up before he does
but he will be wide awake when you ar,
rive on the spot. His meals are picked
up from such things as are left over the
day before, and it is immaterial to him
whether well-cooked or not. No fish is
found to any particular neighborhood,
but has the run Of the entire river or
bond. He is out in all sorts Of weather,
and if he comes home wet what is the diff
erence. It is generally supposed that a
fish stands on his head to sleep. At
least none have ever been caught sleep
ing on their backs. They see by night
as we'll as by day, and perhaps little
better.
The tail Of fish is not Of much &C
count in the frying pan, but it is handy
thing for the fish when sloshing around
in amill-pond full OF old stumps, drowned
boys and wrecked skifs. His tail guides
his head, and itseldom goes back on him.
Nature calculated that he would be fopp-
| ing his tail against BRIDGE imbers, stones,
old hoop iron, and lost fish-hooks, and
SO she made him one which couldn't be
hurt. It IS simply membrane, without
nerves, and could be cut off without the
fish knowing it until he started to dodge
an old root and run his head into the
bank. Fish may be divided into two
classes fish which catch boys, like
the shark, and the fish which permit boys
to catch them, like the mullet and bass.
In going fishing always sit on the We
randa IN the shade, if you can, and if you
can't let the fishing go and hang to the
veranda.