NORTH SEA FISHERIES 43 



are darker on the back than underneath, 

 so that light falling from above makes 

 them almost invisible. The catfish is 

 striped on one fishing ground and spotted 

 on another, reminding one of the tiger 

 whose stripes make it almost indistinguish- 

 able from the long grasses ; and the 

 leopard, which by acquiring its spots, is 

 able to hide among the leaves of the trees. 

 The long jaws, muscular body, and mimetic 

 colouring of fish amply prove its one object 

 in life, which is by its low visibility to be 

 able to surprise and eat weaker fish and to 

 hide from more powerful opponents. If 

 one visits the landing stage at any of our 

 fishing ports and examines the fish, seldom 

 will it be found that specimens show signs 

 of old age : the smaller varieties never do. 

 Fish almost always come to a catastrophic 

 end before senile decay sets in. When the 

 period of fullness of power is passed and 

 the fish loses some of its vitality, it is not 

 long before it is vanquished. The battle 

 is constant and remorseless, yet victory is 

 not always to the strong : many species 

 use extraordinary cunning, and often an 

 unwary fish is lured to a premature end 



