Fish Do Have Feelings

Since I caught a cold last week, I have not been able to go diving. I have too much congestion to equalize. The cold has not prevented me from being in the water. It is fall and the local rivers and streams are full of spawning salmon and that is where I have been.

I have been in a creek taking underwater video of salmon. Last week I noticed there was one fish in particular being very aggressive about maintaining its position in front of the camera. Other salmon would come along and swim in front of the camera, but this particular fish would jump over the top of them and push the other fish out of the way.

Today I had was in the creek with the video camera and noticed that a certain fish kept following me. I would move several feet, this salmon would follow me. I moved back and again this salmon would follow me. I slowly reached over towards this fish and it let me touch him/her and move it around underwater; incredible! Clearly this salmon was reacting to my presence. Its reaction was not one of fear, but one of acceptance and curiosity.

So I guess Kurt Cobain was wrong, fish do have feelings.