150 HEARING OF FISHES. 



beyond visible impression, and thence, because 

 fishes are destitute of voice, they could not hear 

 the human voice. However the conclusion may be 

 at all events I dispute the " because" from which 

 it is deduced. For many have the power, fre- 

 quently exercised, of uttering oral sound, call it 

 voice, or by any other name. Carp and other 

 fish we often hear " chewing the cud," as it were, 

 on a fine evening. Lobsters and crabs, when 

 immersed alive in boiling water, utter shrill and 

 piercing cries ; and the gurnet expires in the 

 boat amidst most melancholy and plaintive 

 groans. Remember also that the human voice is 

 only heard by us by means of the vibrations it 

 causes in the air. But there is this curious 

 anomaly brought against the doctrine of fishes 

 hearing, that Thames anglers in a punt are more 

 boisterous and noisy while enjoying good sport, 

 than while they sit dispirited and quiet through 

 bad. This, however, only proves that the fish are 

 not frightened or deterred from eating, not that 

 they are " hard of hearing." I am convinced 

 by my own observation, of one thing, namely, 

 that fish can hear, or feel, almost every footstep 

 which falls near them ; and, therefore, I would 

 have fishermen tread as lightly as possible about 

 the banks of a river ; and, above all things, never 

 jump, where they expect to find fish. One 

 opportunity, among fifty others, of making obser- 



