CAN A FISH SMELL ? 11 



in this question. They, like the fly-fishers, are somewhat 

 dependent for sport on the presumption that fish are gifted 

 with a discriminating power of sight : but they also hold, 

 according to the traditions of their predecessors, that not 

 only can fish smell, but that their olfactory nerves are 

 remarkably acute ; and acting on this presumption, we 

 have scented and coloured pastes in great variety. Erasmus 

 Wilson places the sense of sight first, hearing second, and 

 smell third in fish. Indeed, he almost insinuates that the 

 difference between one bait and another, if equally attrac- 

 tive to the eye, would be scarcely perceptible. Judging from 

 a long experience, I am inclined to place the sense of smell 

 in a higher rank than that of hearing, practically, if not 

 anatomically. The water, it is true, cannot course through 

 the valvular openings which appear to serve as nostrils, and 

 it has to be expelled through the apertures provided for 

 that purpose, but they are always in motion; and the mem- 

 brane and nerve are most beautiful and delicate for con- 

 veying the impression to the brain. Odours spread with 

 great rapidity down a stream, and fish will assemble from 

 a great distance to a well-baited spot. Mr Moffat tells an 

 anecdote of eel-fishing, which is, no doubt, true to the letter, 

 of the attraction of some large lob-worms on a dark night 

 to the fish ; which seemed to have come from a long distance, 

 attracted by the sense of smell. Asafoetida is said to have 

 a peculiar attractiveness to trout ; as much, indeed, as 

 valerian has to cats, or aniseed for rats. From whatever 

 cause it arises, a plain paste is not near so effective a bait 

 as when a little gin and honey is added. Mr Moffat evi- 

 dently does not believe in gin, though the midland bottom- 

 fishers do. Let the angler for chub or roach try both plans. 

 Let the troller try the same stream with a fresh fish and a 



