FISHES AND FISHING. 91 



recollect that certain sounds denoted certain objects, 

 or rather that certain vibrations of what is called the 

 auditory apparatus, represented certain ideas and 

 things, was beyond conception. 



Msh of prey are driven away by disturbance of the 

 water, such as is caused by throwing in ground bait; 

 but when the roach, dace, &c., are thereby gathered 

 together, after a time a pike or perch will be attracted 

 to the spot by the number of small fish collected 

 round the ground-bait, some of which will become his 

 prey, and the others frightened away by the vora 

 cious enemy of their species ; the same occurs in 

 gudgeon fishing ; the only remedy for the angler is, 

 either to remove to another place, or, with appropriate 

 bait and tackle, endeavour to catch the intruder. 



The effect of the vibration of the water on the brain 

 of fishes, is no doubt different upon various species ; 

 that vibration which warns some of them of the ap 

 proach of danger, teaches others instinctively to seek 

 for food the moment ground-bait, worms, or paste is 

 thrown into the water ; this is particularly seen in 

 roach, dace, and chub ; if a quiet place in the Thames 

 be selected, when the water is clear, by throwing in 

 some of the above-mentioned articles, very shortly 

 after there will appear a great number of small fish 

 near the surface, larger ones lower down, and the 

 largest at the bottom. I have observed, that if you 



