It ls time to sot this matter of fish?
ing upon Its moral legs, as lt were, an
end to Ito accomplished merely by tell?
ing the truth shout lt A fish ls the
very lowest form of the vertebrates, lt
ls Incapable of any Joy except that of
getting hooked and thus drawn out of
the water to which Its nature con?
demns lt and for a time breathing tho
air that Intoxicates lt In delightfully
deadly fashion. It has not even the In?
stinct of sexual association except In
the case of n few rnre species. It
knows nothing of companionship, for
the scientists tell us that even when {
tish swim In "schools" lt ls only l*e
cnuso they are engaged In a common
predatory pursuit of prey, each endeav?
oring to snatch fnnn the others the
morsels they neck to SWSllow.
Po low In the scale ls the fish thnt
oven tn eating he hus no pleasure ex?
cept that of distending his stomach.
for the scientists find no "taste gob
lets" at the base of his tongue, and ev?
ery fisherman knows that the fish
swallows his prey whole, with na pos?
sibility of detecting Its flavor. And
further, every fisherman who ba.-- troll?
ed knows that the Ash is >;.> far nn In?
discriminate goriuaud In his nea roll for
food that he will swallow a coffee
spoon with a bur attached as readily
ns the daintiest bait morsel fiat eec!,;
Ix' displayed in front of his greedy eyes
and lils rapacious mouth.
