Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-05-01
AS TO FISHES SLEEPING.
Question That Was Recently
Brought before Experts of tho
United States Fish Com m missioa.

I
United States Fish Com mmissios.
| Do FISH sleep? This question has
been puzlling the experts at the Unit
ed States fish commission for some
time past, and some of them are not
| yet absolutely certain whether Ash in
| dulge in slumber or are sufferers from
insomnia, says a writer in the New
| York Sun.
Several amateur anglers had dis
cussion In the lobby Of an uptown ho-
tel the other day on this phase of the
life Of the fnny tribe. and being un-
able to decide the matter to their sat-
isfaction they made an appeal to the
fish commission to aid them In their
difficulty.
a messenger was sent with a note
TO George ". Bowers, United States
fish commissioner. asking hi, opinion
on the subject. Nr. Bowers was alb
sent from the desk and tie messenger
was referred to the various scientists
who have made fish culture study
with the statement that they were
the proper officials to whom to apply
for this information.
Mr.. Bowers. IL was explained, being
the executive oficer Of the commits
sion and not n close student OF the
habits and customs Of Ash, was natu-
rally limited In his knowledge of the
ways OF these denizens Of the water.
He had hauled in many black bass
from the Potomac river near his home
In West Virginia, but wns not an ex-
pert on the life OF the many varieties
of fish over which he has supervision.
When the question wns placed be-
fore the scientists of the commission
there was a long, painful pause, and
hurriad questioning glances were ex-
changed between them After great
deal of hesitation discussion was
started, at the end OF which these wise
men were no nearer an answer to the
question than the propounders Of il.
Whether fish indulge in penceful
slumber, the same as human beings
and terrestrial animals. was problem
that had not received careful coniid-
Grafton from the experts. Several
opinions were expressed and many
theories advanced, but arguments
failed to prove them.
One OF the learned men, upon the
impulse of the moment, declared that
fish did not sleep because they did not
close their eyes. A colleague called
tha - T..
to the fact that Ash had no eyelids,
consequently II was Impossible for
them tn conceal their organ ~ sight.
This seemed 10 explode the Il cory
OF the first learned man. Finally the
scientists acknowledged their inabil-
ity to an.wer the question OF hand,
but asserted that correct solution
would result.
Before q practical test was made an
absent member OF the cummission's
stan returned from a business trip
and rescued the experts from the din.
cu.ty. lie declared hat G-h slept. and
forthwith presented his argument.
Tie said that the first thing to con.
sider was the meaning of the word
sleep" That had to be definitely de-
termined, His notion was tha. in all
living creatures there was more or less
activity, mental and bodily, which ne
csssitated rest, and to secure proper
rest sleep was indispensable.
Fish were acuvt and for grpa part
OF their liveswere moving about. which
required a certain amount Of rest from
physical exertion. As regards mental
repose this expert was not In po-
Sition to express decided opinion.
IL there was any menta! exhaustion
among the fnny tribe he said It might
he confined to their forts to resist the
temptation OF swallowing the bait Of
fersd them by the angler. He secuted
the idea that fish did not sleep because
they did not close their eyes.
In support Of this position he argued
that human beings have been known
10 sleep without dropping the eyslids.
And among animals II was not an un-
common occurrence for them to sleep
with eyes wide open.
Continuing, the expert said that he |
had observed hsh In an aquarium which
gave every evidence that they were in |
dniging in sleep. They would remain /
for long time at the bottom " /
tank, resting in an upright position |
upon their tails, which, while not |
attitude, was not unlike .
that OF certain human beings at times. |