164 FISHING IN EDEN 



Fish do not stand high in comparison with other 

 animals in intelligence. Life under water is not 

 conducive to the growth of great intelligence. The 

 environment of freshwater fish is very restricted. 

 Except in regard to competition for food there is 

 little of a stimulative character in their lives. The 

 great and enlivening sense of hearing is absent. 

 The sight of fish is set in a fixed stare. It does 

 not change its direction or dimensions, and is 

 unaccommodating in regard to the judgment of 

 distance. The sole overpowering motive of life is 

 feeding. 



The sense of smell cannot be so highly developed 

 in fish as in animals breathing free air. Fish eat 

 what they have found to be satisfying and harmless. 

 The young fry are not schooled or nourished by 

 their parents. They have to fend for, and take 

 care of, themselves. The number of trout that 

 survive infancy is probably infinitesimal compared 

 with the vast numbers that are eaten up by adult 

 fish, herons, kingfishers, etc. 



