244 SPORTS AND ANECDOTES. 



element. If any trick was played Jack, such as 

 throwing in pieces of stick, or bits of paper rolled 

 up, when he expected food, though he would dash 

 at such things, he would be much offended, and turn 

 sulky, and would not come to his accustomed call, 

 or rather sign, for two or three days. A tench of 

 about a pound was in the same pond, and though I 

 have frequently seen them lying side by side, he 

 never attempted to molest him. This pike eventually 

 died from some unknown cause, probably from over- 

 eating himself, and weighed between thirteen and 

 fourteen pounds. 



I have occasionally seen discussions as to whether 

 fish can hear. To this I say, decidedly not ; for I, 

 and two brothers who were at Eton with me at the 

 same time, can truly say that though we have tried 

 in every way to make the said pike hear, we never 

 could do so. We have hid ourselves, and tried all 

 means when hid, but have never been able to pro- 

 duce any effect upon him. That a great noise, like 

 the firing of a gun, or stamping with the feet, will 

 do it, there is little doubt, because either of these 

 acts .produces vibration, and all fish are very sensible 

 of vibration. But " if fish could hear as well as see, 

 the devil a fisherman might be." 



