The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1902-09-06
AS TO FISHES SLEEPING.

- -. "a Il us ! sss@s
A Question> That Was Recently
4 Brought Before Experts of the
ii United States Fish Commission.
\ Do fish 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 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 inny tribe, and being I'M
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 M. Bowers, United States
fish commissioner, asking his opinion
on the subject. Mr.. Bowers was alb
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, it was explained, being
the executive officer of the commits
sion and not a 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 glances were ex-
changed between them. After 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 as human beings
and terrestrial animals, was 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
scientists acknowledged their inabil-
ity to answer the question off hand,
but asserted that correct solution
would result.
Before practical test was made an
absent member of the commissions
and rescued the experts from the diff
Guilty. He declared that Sch 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 crea lures there was more or less
activity, mental and bodily, which ne
cessitated rest, and to secure proper
rest sleep was indispensa BILE.
Fish were active and for great part
of their lives were moving about, which
required certain amount of rest from
physical exertion. As 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 eye]ids.
And among animals it was not an un-
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
dulging in sleep. They would remain
for a long time at the bottom of a
tank, resting in an upright position
upon their tails, which, while not a
comfortable 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
upon moss and shrubbery in the tank.
The habits of catfish, bullhead and
sunfish 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
dulged in by them, and itwas natural
inference that other specimens of fish
were compelled to obtain rest in the
p, mature of,sleep. 49, ~.I- ~ =. =
| This was the general conclusion
reached, said the scientist, BY ichthy.