EFFECTS OF EXPLOSIVE SOUNDS UPON FISHES. 9 



CERTAIN SOUNDS ATTRACTIVE TO FISHES. 



The problem of the relation of fishes to sounds is almost always 

 taken up from the standpoint of negative reaction, in that it is as- 

 sumed that noise drives fishes away. It must be remembered, how- 

 ever, that there are fishes, like the drumfish and especially the 

 squeteague, that produce noises which are without much doubt con- 

 cerned with bringing the sexes together in the breeding season and 

 that these noises, therefore, are not repellent but serve to attract. 

 Cases of this kind show that it is possible that even artificial noises, 

 if appropriate in character, might attract fishes, for sound, even 

 when disagreeable to the human ear, is not of necessity always dis- 

 turbing to fishes and might even serve as a lure. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



The sounds produced by motor boats are extremely faint under 

 water and have little influence on the movements and feeding of 

 fishes. Such influence as they do have is temporary and very much 

 restricted in local extent. 



Single explosive sounds, like the report of a gun, may startle fish 

 and cause them to cease feeding, but these responses are also tem- 

 porary and local. 



Although most sounds are repellent to fish, some may serve as 

 lures to particular species. 



