STUDY OF FISHES

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1929, Page 2

STUDY OF FISHES

VISUAL AND MENTAL PROCESSES AUCKLAND, Oct. 17. • Interesting sidelights on the visual and mental. processes of fishes were given by Dr ■W. A. Fairclough in the course of a lecture in the Univeisity College Hall. The swordfish, xiphias gladlus, was given a low rating by the lecturer, who exhibited a lantern slide showing the .rough, dissection of the head off a swordfish, which he made some six years ago at Mayor Island with a tomahawk and a sheath knife. ’’Here are the optic nerves, and here is 'the brain,” said Dr. Fairclough. “A 4001 b fish with a brain the size of a Walnut. The mental processes of the swordfish must be non-existent. Plain as we appreciate it, is a mental process, so 1 conclude that the swordfish is incapable of feeling pain. He certainly cannot appreciate pain as we know it, and to suggest that the fish can distinguish 'between the triangular gang hook and the single hook used by different anglers is absurd.” Colour design was dealt with in another interesting passage of the -lecture. :-“'Mosii scientific experimenters have come to the conclusion after a great many ingenious experiments that all fish are totally colour-blind,” said Dr Fairclough. “ This is directly opposed to the opinion otf all fly fishermen, who hold that fish have a decided preference for red. orange, green, brown, and blue. The fisherman will spend- considerable time in selecting the colour of the flv which will be best ito deceive the fish. Personally, I think that there is not a doubt that trout can tell a ■ ‘Jock Scott’ from a ‘Black Doctor’.