8 OBSERVATIONS 



all events it appears, that neither the above men- 

 tioned explosions, nor the loud voices, had power 

 to produce vibrations in the water, which could so 

 affect them. 



Leaving the discussion of this intricate subject 

 to more able and learned speculators, it is suffi- 

 cient to know that the above mentioned Trout had 

 no ears to hear either the voices or the gun ; and I 

 firmly believe, that the zest which friendly chat 

 often imparts to the exercise of our captivating 

 art, need never be marred by an apprehension that 

 sport will be impaired thereby. 



Sight. 



Of all the senses in fish, sight is perhaps the 

 one of most importance to them. Their eyes are 

 perfectly adapted to the element they inhabit ; 

 indeed their subsistence seems to depend mainly 

 upon the great sensibility of the optic nerve and 

 the just adaptation of the crystalline and other 

 humours to their proper office. 



A fish can perhaps frequently distinguish (with 

 greater or less distinctness) much more of objects 

 which are out of his own element than it is often 

 imagined that he can. 



When A B (fig. 1 . plate 2), for instance, situated 

 upon a certain eminence at a given distance from 

 a fish, C, which is near the bottom of the water, 



