THE BREATHING APPARATUS, ETC., OF FISH 25 



throat molar-like teeth arranged in one, two, or three series on 

 the pharyngeal bones, suitable for bruising or pulping vegetable 

 diet. Coupled with this masticatory apparatus, the palate in 

 Cyprinoid fishes is padded with a thick, soft skin of whitish 

 colour, rendered very sensitive by numerous nerves. This, it 

 is supposed, may be the organ of taste, enabling carp to enjoy 

 the flavour of their food, of which other fish are probably 

 little sensible in the act of bolting it. Humanitarians might 

 perceive in this an additional argument against carp-fishing ; 

 but I can testify from experience that a large salmon-hook 

 deeply buried in the muscle of the human lower lip causes 

 scarcely perceptible pain, although the process of extraction 

 cannot be described as agreeable. In the Cyclostomata the 

 teeth are adapted for a peculiar boring process, as will be 

 described in dealing with the lampreys. 



The degree in which fish are sensible of pain is a matter of 

 speculation which has often been discussed, and still occupies 

 The sense ^^^ anxious thoughts of tender-hearted people who 

 of touch, ^j-g fond of angling. Not one of these but would 

 abandon his cherished pursuit were he convinced, or did he 

 even suspect, that the sufferings of a hooked salmon fighting 

 for his life during twenty minutes of " play " were as 

 excruciating as those of a rabbit struggling with torn flesh 

 and shattered bones in an iron trap appear to be. The 

 cruelty of the performance would be so shocking that salmon- 

 fishing must necessarily be expunged from the category of 

 sport, to which rabbit-trapping never has been admitted. 

 And yet, startling as it may seem to persons who have 

 never considered the matter deeply, the suffering of the two 

 animals probably differs in intensity only in proportion to 

 their relative intelligence. The rabbit suffers more acutely 

 than the salmon because of its greater brain-power, and for 

 the same reason a dog, accidentally trapped, undergoes sharper 

 mental agony than a rabbit. As for the sheer physical 

 pain, we are entitled to remember that merciful provision 



