6 THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 



fishes, susceptible therefore to no slight variation of 

 sounds ; no noise that does not occasion a vibration 

 of the element which they inhabit reaches them. 

 Thus the effects of approaching heavy foot-falls 

 will be perceived, when a loud acclamation will 

 have no visible effect on them. A learned doctor of 

 divinity, once known to the writer, used to include in 

 his category of angling requisites a gigantic musical- 

 box, which, for bottom fishing, it was supposed, served 

 the double purpose of being a convenient seat and 

 a charming substitute for ground bait. So far as the 

 latter object was concerned, the effect was purely 

 imaginary, as, to the impartial mind, results amply 

 testified. 



We have now dealt with the two chief organs 

 possessed by fish, namely, those of sight and hearing, 

 a knowledge of both of which is highly important 

 to the angler. With regard to the senses of taste 

 and smell, we may briefly state that from what we 

 have been able to ascertain they are very slightly 

 developed ; that of taste we do not believe is possessed* 

 in the faintest degree by the majority of fish. Roach, 

 grayling, and the smaller species of delicate organism 

 we have found display fastidiousness in this respect, 

 but the mass of voracious fish we believe to be totally 

 devoid of all sense of it. The nostrils are doubtless 

 the medium by which impurities in the water are 

 detected. Certain it is that such impurities are 

 perceived, and whenever possible avoided, as is 

 plainly exemplified in these days of river pollution. 



Apart from the above causes the movements of 



