The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1902-09-13
As TO FISHES. SLEEPING.

As 10 FISHES SLEEPING. Il
4. Question 'That was RsesaaIx
r Brought Before Dxperts o1 the
uniteA States Fish Conzaissioa.
= Do hsh sleep?& This question has
been puzzling the experts at the Unit
ed States fish commission for some
time past, and some of them are not
yet absolutely certain whether fish 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 no.
tel the other day on this phase Of the
life of the 6nny tribe, and, being IN
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 note
to George NJ. Bowers, United States
fish commissioner, asking his opinion
on the subject. Mr.. Bowers was ab-
sent from the desk and the 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, 1t was explained, being
the executive officer of the commis-
sion and not close student of the
habits and customs of fish, 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 was not an ex-
pert on the life of the many varieties
of fish over which he has supervision.
When the question was placed be-
fore the scientists of the commission
there was long, painful pause, and
hurried questioning chances were ex-
changed between them. After a great
deal of hesitation a discussion was
started, at the end of which these wise
men were no nearer an answer to the
question than the propounders of it.
Whether fish indulge in peaceful
slumber, the same al human beings
and terrestrial animals, was a problem
that had not received careful consid-
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
the attention Of his brother scientist
to the fact that fish had no eyelids,
consequently it was impossible for
them to conceal their organ of sight.
This seemed to explode the theory
of the first learned man. Finally the
scientists acknowledged their inabil-
ity to answer the question of hand,
but asserted that q correct solution
would result.
Before a practical test was made an
absent member of the commissions
staff returned from a business trip
and rescued the experts from the diff
Guilty. He declared that feh slept, and
forthwith presented his argument.
He said that the first thing to con-
slider was the meaning of the word
~sleep." That had to be definitely de-
termined. His notion was that in all
living creatures there was more or less
activity, mental and bodily, which ne
cessitated rest, and to secure proper
rest sleep was Indispensable.
Fish were active and for great part
of their lives were moving about, which
required certain amount of rest from
physical exertion. Al regards mental
repose this expert was not in a po-
sition to express decided opinion.
If there was any mental exhaustion
among the fnny tribe he said it might
be confined to their efforts to resist the
temptation of swallowing the bait Of
fered 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
to sleep without dropping the eyelids.
And among animals it was not an IN
common occurrence for them to sleep
with eyes wide open.
Continuing, the expert said that he
had observed fish in an aquarium which
gave every evidence that they were in
dnlgfng in sleep. They would remain
for long time at the bottom Of
tank, resting in an upright position
upon their tails, which, while not
comfortabl attitude, was not unlike
that of certain human beings at times.
In other forms of repose fish lay on
their sides and also rested their bodies
spon moss and shrubbery in the tank.
The habits of catfish, bu!lhead and
sundsh were mentioned as another IL
lustration Of sleeping fish. During the
winter season these species go to the
bottom Of the water: and founder
about until they become incased in
mud, and there remain during the cold
period. This was certainly sleep in
duiged. in by them, and twas natural
inference that other specimens of fish
were compelled to obtain rest in the
nature of sleep.