Gardening and Animals

1860

Art of Catching Fish

The juice of lovage or smellage mixed with any kind of bait, or a few drops of the oil of rhodium. India cockle also, (Coculus Indicus,) is sometimes mixed with flour dough and sprinkled on the surface of still water. This intoxicates the fish and makes them turn up on the top of the water, when they are taken and put in a tub of fresh water until they revive, when all is right. They may be eaten without fear, but this will destroy many fish. Oil of rhodium is the best plan.

"' It is generally supposed,” says Mr. R. I. Pell, "that fish are not possessed of the sense of smell. From the following experiments I am convinced they are:-I placed a hook well baited with an angle worm, enticingly before a perch weighing 1 1-2 lbs.; he did not take the least notice of it. It was withdrawn, and a drop of rhodium brought in contact with it, when it is dropped very carefully several feet behind him; he immediately turned and seized the bait. This experiment was several times repeated with like success. It has been denied that fish have the sense of hearing. I find many varieties very sensitive to noise, and by numerous experiments am convinced that their sense of hearing is acute."