PHOTOGRAPHING FISH 103 



PART III 



HANDLING AND PHOTOGRAPHING THE FISH 



FISH, having nothing in common with us, as have 

 the birds and animals, are difficult to handle because 

 we do not understand them and their ways, for we 

 have no standard by which to judge them. They 

 do not as a rule appear to be easily frightened, nor 

 indeed do they pay much attention to things about 

 them. Strong light and the restriction of their range 

 affect them more than anything else. Some vari- 

 eties do not even object to being handled, while 

 others will not allow themselves to be touched. 

 Evidently fish have individuality, and this individuality 

 applies not only to species, but to different fish of the 

 same kind. As a rule we find the chub, carp, and 

 tench are dull and slow and therefore easily photo- 

 graphed, while trout, salmon, and black-bass are 

 nervous and difficult to handle. But occasionally a 

 quiet, well-disposed trout or bass is found; while, 

 on the other hand, we sometimes find an individual 

 trout or carp or tench so nervous and wild that it 

 cannot be used. I mention this because I may allude 

 to certain fish as being difficult to handle, when the 

 reader attempting to photograph the same species may 

 experience not the slightest difficulty. 



If the fish to be photographed is a common one, 



