Fish

Fish are a group of animals distinguished by being aquatic, having a distinct skull, gills, and no limbs with digits. Due to the horror of the Great War, fish are a rare sight inland and most are horribly mutated.
==Background==
Commonplace before the Great War and the climate change it wrought, fish were an important part of human society. Many species were fished from water bodies and oceans to become an important part of the human diet, thanks to their protein and omega-3 fatty acid content.Curie: "Fish are an excellent source of Omega-3."(Curie's dialogue) Fishpacking companies like Mahkra Fishpacking or Four Leaf would sign contracts with independent fishing boats for their bounties, facing stiff competition. The economy of entire regions was tied to commercial fishing, e.g. in Maine.Vim! Pop factory terminal entries; R & D terminal, Well that's weird Some of the staple species included bluefish and haddock.Mahkra Fishpacking terminal entries; terminal, Boston BlueMahkra Fishpacking terminal entries; terminal, Fumes 
Amateur fishing was also commonplace, though typically subject to licensing, like hunting.Cliff's Edge Hotel terminal entries; hotel terminal, Acadia National Park: "Open year round, Acadia National Park is the largest attraction on the island. Visitors can enjoy the rugged beauty of this untouched wilderness. Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased from the Park HQ." It was popular as a survival skill among Pioneer Scouts, with the lakes around Grafton a popular destination for bass fishing trips.Scout Leader Jaggy: ""(Scout Leader Jaggy's dialogue) Troops deployed overseas also commonly came into contact with exotic fish and learned to prepare them. Some of the experience thus gained became essential after the War to figuring out ways to cook mutated creatures.Volunteer training program: Food:Delbert Winters: " "
Lake Quannapowitt in Massachusetts was one example of inland pollution; suspected illegal waste dumping by Corvega, General Atomics and Saugus Ironworks polluted the waters severely, spiking by January 2077, and continuing to increase.Lake Quannapowitt terminal entries; monitoring station terminal, 6/1/77Lake Quannapowitt terminal entries, monitoring station terminal, 6/25/77 By July, the pollution became so intense that the fishing tournament organized by the mayor ended in tragedy, with 27 casualties due to radiation exposure and no fish caught.Lake Quannapowitt terminal entries; monitoring station terminal, 7/4/77 Independent testing showed a 1,500% increase in contamination year over year.Nahant Oceanological Society terminal entries; research terminal, Samples from Lake Quannapowitt To avoid embarrassment and litigation, the city attorney instructed all evidence to be destroyed, despite being obligated otherwise.Legal notice
Aside from this monstrosity, the idea of aquatic monsters preying on humans led to the release of Night of the Fish Men's Revenge and Attack of the Fishmen, about Mesozoic creatures rising up to attack humans.Night of the Fish Men's Revenge 
===After the War===
The size of the fishing industry was so great that even after 200 years the facilities remain easily recognizable despite the deterioration,Curie: "The fishing industry has seen better days."(Curie's dialogue) and retained their distinctive odor.Preston Garvey: ""(Preston Garvey's dialogue)X6-88: ""(X6-88's dialogue)Piper Wright: ""(Piper Wright's dialogue) Due to the scale of the operations and overfishing, the fish packing plants had vast amounts of processed fish stored, which remain available, edible,Nick Valentine: ""(Nick Valentine's dialogue) and irradiated even after 200 years of scavenging and exposure to the elements (thanks to preservatives).Codsworth: ""(Codsworth's dialogue)
While fish suffered from environmental pollution before the Great War and were exposed to nuclear fallout after the War, the collapse of human society had a beneficial long-term effect on marine life, allowing them to recover. However, the same environmental pressures also mean fish are no longer an obvious source of nutrition; while they can be caught (though some doubt it's even possible),Danse: ""(Danse's dialogue) and with the proper preparation (even roasting over an open fire)Weary fisherman: "{163}{}{There's nothing like the taste of a juicy fish on an open fire.}"Fisherman's son: "{148}{}{It's been so long since you caught anything, I've forgotten what it tastes like.}"(Weary fisherman and fisherman's son's dialogue) they remain an excellent meal,Deacon: "A properly cooked fish is pretty good eats. As long as it hasn't mutated too much."(Deacon's dialogue) the mutations can be severe enough to become indigestible.Cait: ""(Cait's dialogue) Minor alterations, like two heads, are considered perfectly edible. In severely contaminated regions like the Capital Wasteland, fish can even be lethal; those who live in the Potomac waters are typically horribly irradiated and full of heavy metals, especially mercury, leading to irreversible brain damage. Most know well enough to stay away from fish of any kind.Rivet City terminal entries; Rivet City patient data system, Regional Health Hazards Some of the mutated species are a different danger; they are so large they could pull fishermen into the waters and drown them, turning predator into prey.Bottle message - Predator Becomes Prey
With that in mind, fish became a source of sustenance for many individualsDonny Kowalski: " "(Donny Kowalski's dialogue) and communities and even a part of their economies, though the lack of advanced technologies means they have to once more rely on fish nets, rods, and individual strength. The traditional disdain of fishermen for interruptions persisted, as did their bad temper when disturbed.Fisherman: ""(Fisherman's dialogue)Fisherman: ""(Fisherman's dialogue)Fisherman: ""(Fisherman's dialogue) Fishing isn't done only from the shore; in regions like the Commonwealth, wastelanders are able to take boats out to the waters for fishing.Edwin's journal, 9/17/2287
In New California, fish are the staple food of the Shi, together with seaweed,Shi townsperson: "{105}{}{Fish and seaweed. That's all we get.}"(Shi townspersons' dialogue) and rice (owing to the poor soil).Shi merchant: "{112}{}{We got fish, we got seaweed, we got rice, we got... umm...}{113}{}{Ain't much that grows here, but what does, we got it in stock!}"(Shi merchants' dialogue) Everyone in San Francisco relies on fish for nutrition, from the Shi workers and peasants to the squatters living on the shoreline,Shi squatter: "{108}{}{Fresh seafood every night! Tasty, even if it has two heads.}"(Shi squatters' dialogue) to the tanker vagrants.Tanker vagrants: "{104}{}{I'm sick of fish.}"(Tanker vagrants' dialogue) Workers at the docks are typically covered in tar, salt, and fish scales from processing the catch,Shi dockworkers' character description: "{102}{}{You see a Shi peasant whose clothes are smeared with fish scales, tar, and salt.}"(Shi dockworkers' dialogue) and can make use of any part of fish, including fish juice.Shi dockworker: "{105}{}{You like fish juice?}"(Shi dockworkers' dialogue) As such, fish are San Fran's principal export.The Chosen One: "{123}{}{Tell me about the place.}"Mai Da Chiang: "{125}{}{We have lived here for years, but we did not always live here. Dr. Fung knows the complete history. I'll bet what you're looking for is what we do now.}"The Chosen One: "{126}{}{Yep.}"Mai Da Chiang: "{128}{}{Now, we are mainly fishermen and scientists. Our fishermen catch fish. Our scientists are working on a project that they say will change the world.}"(Mai Da Chiang's dialogue) Most of the locals appreciate the fresh air, the sun, and seafood,Shi dockworker: "{106}{}{Sun, fresh air, and seafood. What more could anyone want but a bath?}"(Shi dockworkers' dialogue) although the reliance on fish is not universally appreciated.Shi dockworker: "{107}{}{I am getting sick of fish.}"(Shi dockworkers' dialogue)
Other examples of settlements relying on fishing include Far Harbor on the other end of the continent. Much of the settlement traces their lineage to pre-War commercial sailors and fishermen,Fallout 4 loading screens (Far Harbor): "Descended from sailors and fishermen, the leader of Far Harbor has always held the title of 'Captain.'" and salvaged fishing equipment serves both for catching fish and for combat.Fallout 4 loading screens (Far Harbor): "Improvised heavy fishing and ship hooks are the close quarters weapons of choice for the denizens of the island." The Island was also home to other communities of fishers and hunters, though many were driven to madness by the horrors and ever-present Fog.Fallout 4 loading screens (Far Harbor): "Trappers were once ordinary fishers and hunters, but have been driven to madness by the horrors of the island and its radioactive Fog." In the Commonwealth to the south, this includes many coastal communities like University Point (at least before its destruction).University Point council meeting:Bert Strickland: "I really have no idea what data you think we have, we're just farmers and fishers."(Note: Part of a holotape exchange with Conrad Kellogg) A persistent issue is the amount of junk in the waters, which means that instead of fish, one may catch a mini nuke instead.Far Harbor fisherman: "I've yet to catch a proper fish. Hooked a mini nuke once, though. Good day, that."(Far Harbor fisherman's dialogue) Even mutants rely on fish for sustenance, such as the super mutants of the Commonwealth (though they also seem to confuse crustacean mirelurks with fish).Strong: "Here fishy fishy fishy!"(Strong's dialogue)Strong: "Aha! Big fishy. Strong want to eat you!"(Strong's dialogue)Strong: "Fish out of water. Quick kill it for dinner!"(Strong's dialogue)
Such spoils may have unorthodox uses. Dynamite fishing, using explosives to kill fish and then collect them from the surface, was known before the Great War. Fat Man shells can be used for the same purpose.Robert MacCready: "You ever heard of dynamite fishing? Waste of time. Use a fat man shell and you'll never go hungry again."(Robert MacCready's dialogue)
==Species==
* BassFishing tournament ad
** Sea bassFar Harbor fisherman: "But I fish myself up an honest to goodness sea bass and nary a peep."(Far Harbor fisherman's dialogue)
* Bluefish
* Belcher's sea snake, the most venomous snake in the world. A few milligrams of venom is enough to kill hundreds of people.Oceanological instructor: "Belcher's Sea Snake is the most venomous snake in the world. A few milligrams of venom is enough to kill hundreds of people."(Oceanological instructor's dialogue)
* Catfish, with spines long enough to pierce a human heart or lungs.Oceanological instructor: "Certain species of catfish are equipped with spines long enough to pierce a human heart or lungs."(Oceanological instructor's dialogue) Catfish survived the War and the species mutated, some developing three eyes and preying on fish in the coastal waters of New California.Weary fisherman: "{125}{}{Well, I've fished this place for the last five years and it keeps getting worse and worse. I think it's Skunk, the three-eyed giant catfish, that keeps scaring everything away from my spot.}"(Weary fisherman's dialogue)
** Bullhead catfish
* Carp
* CodNahant Oceanological Society terminal entries; research terminal, Increased Toxicity
* Great white shark, with a bite strength exceeding 40,000 psi or 2,758 bar.Oceanological instructor: "The bite of a Great White Shark can exceed fourty thousand pounds per square inch."(Oceanological instructor's dialogue)
* Haddock
* LungfishThe Dragon: "{174}{}{You have the honor of a pig and the morals of a lungfish. I do not wish to associate with you.}"(The Dragon's dialogue)
* Musky
* Perch
* Puffer fishOceanological instructor: "When threatened, the Puffer Fish will blow itself up to more than twice its original size to scare off predators."(Oceanological instructor's dialogue)
* SalmonSettler: "Fighting Mirelurks reminds me of fishing for salmon. Shame that their flesh has the texture of vulcanized rubber. Well, food is food."(Settlers' dialogue)
* Scorpaenidae family, including the lionfish, which possess a sharp dorsal spine coated in a venomous mucus.Oceanological instructor: "Members of the Scorpaenidae family, such as the Lionfish, possess a sharp dorsal spine coated in a venemous mucus."(Oceanological instructor's dialogue)
* Stingrays, with venomous barbs in their tails and with a cartilage skeleton.Aquarium of the Atlantic terminal entries; petting pool terminal, Stingray Facts
* Swordfish, a fish that would use its bill to lash out and stun prey. It also possessed a special organ to heat their brain and eyes.Oceanological instructor: "A Swordfish will use its bill to lash out and stun prey and possess a special organ to heat their brain and eyes."(Oceanological instructor's dialogue)
* TunaVault 76 dweller: "Tell me more about Tune-Ups."Sam Nguyen: "Funny you ask. I've always been good at tuning things. Doesn't matter if it's a piano, an engine, or even a person. Only thing I can't tune is a fish. Get it, because you can't tuna...ah forget it. Bad joke. What I'm trying to say is, I know a few tricks to get your mind centered. But the effects can be pretty random."(Sam Nguyen's dialogue)
* WalleyeScout Leader Jaggy: ""(Scout Leader Jaggy's dialogue)
==Other marine species==
* Horseshoe crabs, older than the dinosaurs and with blue blood used commonly in the pharmaceutical industry.Aquarium of the Atlantic terminal entries; petting pool terminal, Horseshoe Crab Facts
* Starfish, with some species capable of regenerating into two separate entities if bifurcated.Oceanological instructor: "When bifurcated, some starfish can regenerate into two separate starfish."(Oceanological instructor's dialogue) All possess the ability to regenerate missing limbs, do not possess a brain, and see with their legs.Aquarium of the Atlantic terminal entries; petting pool terminal, Starfish Facts
==References==
Category:Creatures