3 

 THE INTELLIGENCE OF TROUT 



FISHERMEN often wonder where instinct in trout 

 ends and a form of reasoning begins. In this 

 respect trout can be said to be quite different from 

 insects, which are guided in life purely by instinct. 

 There can be no doubt that experience plays an 

 important part in the lives of trout. A pricked trout 

 is much more shy than an unpricked one. " Once 

 bitten twice shy " is, no doubt, true in regard to 

 some of their experiences. 



Individual trout certainly do get to know that 

 man is a dangerous animal. They have seen 

 dreadful things happen in his presence. He is 

 quite different from all other animals frequenting the 

 banks of rivers, for he stands upright, and waves his 

 arms about. No other animal does this. 



Occasionally violently struggling trout are to be 

 seen being dragged towards him by invisible and 

 mysterious means. It is quite clear that adult trout 



in fishing rivers soon become suspicious and wary 



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