The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1902-09-27
AS TO FISHES SLEEPING.
a Qaestten That was Recently
Brought Before. Mxperts of the
= United States Fish Comnaission.E%

uuAS 50 LII S1uAuUcI OT are Su1lC1 OA . a. I'LL
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 fnny 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 NJ. 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 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 a long, painful pause, and
hurried questioning chances were ex-
changed between them. After a 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 it.
Whether fish indulge in peaceful
slumber, the same as 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
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 off hand,
but asserted that correct solution
would result.
Before a practical test was made IN
absent member of the commissions
staff returned from business trip
and rescued the experts from the diff
Guilty. He declared that fab 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-
termlned. His notion was that in all
living ere lures there wa 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 liveswere moving about, which
required a 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 Ash 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 un-
common occurrence for them to sleep
with eyes wide open.
Contin uing, 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 long time at the bottom of a
tank, resting ia an upright position
upon their tails, which, while not a
comfor table attitude,swas not unlike
that of certain human beings at times.
I'm other. forms OF repose fish lay on
their sides and also rested their bodies
upon moss and shrubbery in thel:tank.
The habits OF catfish, bullhead and
sunf1sh were mentioned as another il
lustratlon of sleeping fish. During the
winter season these species so to. the
bottom of the water and founder
about until they become incassd> in,
mud, and there remain during the cold
period: This was certainly sleep in
dnlged in by them, anditwas natural
anterence: that othe1 specimens of fish
were compelled to obtain rest in the
nature of sleep: - ~
This was the general conclusion
reached, said the scientist, by ichthy-
elogists who had given this phase of
Dish HE careful study: II. =
His Phonetic Understandina.
'rhe gravity which is supposed to
attend all court proceedings was Sc
| xfously disturbed in a Nav Vorl~ o.,,,,,+