I have long thought it a good idea to pay close attention to studies
which reinforce my prejudices. This week Scientific American reported
that fish which had consumed reserveratol, a compound found in red
wine, were "vivacious swimmers" and could remember in which compartment
the light last flashed.
I wonder, though, why the Italians did not feed the fish chocolate, or
beer, or gelato. How well a fish must do with a belly full of gelato.
When stuffed to the gills with chocolate ice cream, you'll probably
find that even your South American bottom feeder becomes suddenly
air-born, a god reacting to the sky's itch, a flier. It's
counter-intuitive, I know, but that's science for you. Or Brazil.
The Scots, of course, embarked upon these experiments long before the
Romans tried their small invasions. Bored on a cold winter's
night--and what other kind is there--the Scots rolled out a barrel and
threw a few herring in. It is not now known what exactly were the
spirits in that barrel, but the conclusion was nearly universally
accepted--the herring's taste, unlike that of humans, improves greatly
when pickled.
Damn. Now I'm remembering vivacious swimming, but not where the light
last flashed.
David Ritchie, Portland, Oregon
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