INTEODUCTORY EEMAEKS. 15 



speaks of trout that took dead-house flies when plastered over 

 with cayenne and mustard. This would tell us that their 

 senses of smell and taste were not very acute, but then on 

 the other hand, I know that fish can be attracted by scented 

 pastes, and chemically flavoured worms. Some fish also are 

 attracted long distances by salmon roe, prepared in a peculiar 

 manner. I am inclined to the opinion that fish can both 

 taste and smell ; for a chub will take a piece of high-smelling 

 cheese, when he will take nothing else, and the more it smells 

 the better he likes it. 



Enough, however, has perhaps been said on the different 

 senses of fish, and now just a few more remarks, and I must 

 bring this introductory chapter to a close; it has already 

 drawn itself out to a much longer length than I had in- 

 tended, though I think I have mentioned nothing that 

 will not interest and perchance instruct the working man 

 angler. 



We in England cannot boast of having such strange and 

 queer fish as are found in some countries, such as the " flour 

 fish " of China, or the strange variety of carps, or the " crying 

 fish," or the " tree-climbing perch " of that country, but it is 

 said we have a one-eyed fish in the Carnarvonshire lakes, 

 and a peculiar "blue roach" in a pond on the marshes of 

 Kent. 



I have read, too, of the " booming" of the bearded drum- 

 fish, of the " noisy maigre," and of the " grunt fish " of the 

 Gulf of Mexico, which " can express discontent and pain, 

 and when touched with a knife, fairly shrieks, and when 

 dying makes moans and sobs disagreeably human." We have 

 nothing as I have said like these in England, although in 

 Wales they have a peculiar " croaking trout," which is found 

 in the Carraclwddy pools, and which when taken utters a sound 

 something like a " croak." 



Some fish are very tenacious of life, such as pike, perch 



