The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-10-18
How q Fish Recognizes q Nan.

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deny altogether that the cold
blooded fsh--looked on with contempt
so far as its intellectual powers are con-
cerned-is stupid or slow to learn. On
the contrary, fishes are remarkably
quick, not only under natural condi.
tons, but quick at accommodating
themselves to altered circumstances
which they could not foresee, and the
knowledge how to meet which could not
have been inherited. The basking jack
Ii not alarmed at the cart-horse's hoofs,
but remains quiet, let them come down
with ever so heavy thud. He has OBJ
served that these vibrations never cause
him an injury. He hears them at all
periods Of the day and night, often with
long intervals of silence and with every
possible variation. Never once has the
sound been followed by an injury or by
anything to disturb his peace. So the
rocks have observed that passing trains
are harmless, and will perch on the
telegraph wires or poles over the steam
of the roaring locomotive. Observe
ton has given them confidence. Thunder
of wheels and immense weight in motion,
the open furnace and glaring light, the
faces at the long tier of windows-all
these terrors do not rufde feather. A
little boy with wooden clapper can set
flock in retreat Immediately. Now.
the rocks could not have acquired this
confidence in the course of innumerable
generations; 1t il not hereditary; it il
purely what we understand bv intelli-
gence. Why are the rocks afraid Of the
little boy with the clapper? Because
Why is the basking jack of the instant
he hears the light step Of Q manP He
observed that after this step there have
often followed attempts to iniure him;
stone has been flung after him, long
pole trust into the water; he has been
shot at, or felt the pinch of wire. He
remembers this, and does not wait for
the attempt to be repeated, but puts
himself into safety. II he did not real
lie that 1t was man-and q possible
enemy-he would not trouble. The
object consequently of the tricks
OF the poacher Is to obliterate him.
self. If you can contrive to so move
and conduct yourself that the fish shall
not recognize you as his enemy, you can
do much as you please with him, and in
varying degrees it is the same with AMI
mails.
Think moment by what token q fish
recognizes man. First his light, and.
compared with other animals, brisk
step-a two-step instead of four-step.
remember; two feet, not four hoofs.
There is 0 difference at once In the
rhythm of the noise. Four hoofs can by
no possibility produce the same sound,
or succession of sounds, as is made even
by four feet-that is, by two men. The
beats are not the same. Secondly, bv
his motions, and especially the brisk
motions OF his arm. Thirdly, by the
briskness itself; for most animals, except
man, move with slow motion-paradox
as 1t may seen-even when they are
going along fast. With. them it is
usually repose in action. Fourthly-
and this IL rather curious-experienc
seems to show that fish, and animals
and birds certainly, recognize man by
bis hat or cap, to which they have q
species OF superstitious dislike. Hats
are generally Of o different hue to the
rest of the suit. for one thing; and 1t was
noted, q century ago, that Wild creatures
have q particular objection to black
opposite to their own ideas that 1t
srouses suspicion, for we must remember
that animals look on our clothes as our
skin. To have black skin over the hair |
of the head il somewhat odd. By all |
these signs hsh knows o man immedi- |
ately, and as certainly as any creature
moving on land would know him. |
There Is no instructive or hereditary |
fear of man at all-it is acquired by OBJ |
sorvation (Which thousand facts dem
Onstrate); so that we are quite justified |
In believing that . fish really does mo-
toe some or all Of these attributes of its
enemy. What the poacher or wild |
hunter has TO do Is to sonceaI |
these attributes. To hide the two-step |
he walks as slowly as possible, not put |
ting the foot down hard, but feeling the
ground first, and gradually pressing il. |
In this way progress may be made |
without vibration. The earth Ia not |
shaken, and does not communicate the
sound to the water. This will bring
him to the verge Of the place where the
fish Is basking.-R. letters, Sss London
Grnphfc