SEEN WITH THE EYE OF A FISH 25 



explanation why we so seldom see a dead dace, roach 

 or rudd in our ponds and rivers. The balance of a fish 

 is maintained by the action of the pectoral and pelvic 

 fins, and of these there is one on each side. If a healthy 

 fish inclines, say, to the right side, automatically with a 

 down stroke of the pectoral and pelvic fins on that side 

 he restores his balance ; but a weakly or dying fish loses 

 this perfect balancing power, and slowly turns on one 

 side ; then as he realises he is going over he makes an 

 effort and rights himself. These movements result in 

 long gleams of light flashed through the water at regular 

 intervals, and the attention of the pike, perch or trout 

 is soon attracted, and he has no difficulty in catching 

 his weakly prey. 



When one realises how very slightly a fish has to 

 turn on his side to reveal himself, it is remarkable that 

 we so seldom see a silvery glint as he dashes through 

 the water. 



Watch trout shooting off a shallow into a pool above. 

 It is possible you may detect the shadowy form, but 

 more often than not the only indication of the position 

 of the fish is the point of the wedge -like ripple as he 

 leaves the gravelly bed. When fish swim rapidly they 

 do so by swishing their tails from side to side, and there 

 certainly would be sufficient roll of the body for the 

 silvery sides to catch the light from above, were it not 

 for the fact that a fish when he swims fully extends his 

 dorsal and anal fins, and these, acting like the keel of a 

 boat, keep him in a straight course. 





