264 OTHER FISH AND GAME 



gaff on a number 8 hook, and, in fact, if anything had 

 been broken away it would in all probability have 

 been the held portion of the mouth of the fish instead 

 of the hook. I know, of course, that the mouth of the 

 trout is very much tougher than that of the ouana- 

 niche, and that sometimes a heavy fish has broken a 

 very small hook; but, on the other hand, every success- 

 ful angler can recall the killing of very large trout on 

 a very small hook ; generally, of course, after a pro- 

 tracted and on the part of the angler, at least a 

 carefully and thoughtfully conducted fight. 



All trout fishermen know, to their sorrow, that there 

 are times when the fish rise briskly, but " not in ear- 

 nest," and in this connection I will quote a couple of 

 extracts from an article in The National Review, un- 

 der the caption "Do Fish Show Temper?" in which 

 there is any amount of food for reflection. The writer 

 says: 



" A fish inquisitive or in temper is undoubtedly an absurd idea at 

 first sight ; but the absurdity lessens on reflection. All animals of 

 whose ways we have intimate knowledge reveal the emotions which 

 the fisherman denies to fish. For example, children, lambs, young 

 tigers, young lions, young monkeys, kittens, and puppy dogs rush 

 at things which attract their eyes, and that without thought of eat- 

 ing them ; and if they are thwarted or injured in the contact they 

 are apt to rush at them again in irritation. If, then, we take it for 

 granted that fish are incapable of curiosity and irritation, we are 

 assuming that the minds of fish are fundamentally different from 

 those of all living creatures with whose natures we are familiar. 

 That, when one thinks of it, would be an assumption so great as to 

 be impossible of acceptance until it had been justified by the clear- 

 est reasoning. No reasoning whatsoever can be offered in its favor, 

 and some can be offered against it. We have no authority for be- 

 lieving that the mental characteristics of fish are different from those 

 of animals generally. We are used to believing this ; but the usage 



