"But these poor stupid creatures do not understand that, and when one of them is jerked out of the water and disappears, they have the idea he has gone to glory, which means to them some unknown but beautiful sea." "I've often wondered," said Trot, "why fishes are foolish enough to bite on hooks." "They must know enough to know they're hooks," added Cap'n Bill musingly.
"Oh, they do," replied Merla.

"I've seen fishes gather around a hook and look at it carefully for a long time.

They all know it is a hook and that if they bite the bait upon it they will be pulled out of the water.

But they are curious to know what will happen to them afterward, and think it means happiness instead of death.

So finally one takes the hook and disappears, and the others never know what becomes of him." "Why don't you tell 'em the truth ?" asked Trot.
"Oh, we do.