Ripples Through Time - 038

I'm reading every Aquaman solo adventure in publication order, one per day. After I read each story I'm going to post the cover/splash page and a few thoughts on the story.

Adventure #104 (May 1946) - Four Fish to Fetch!

Aquaman mediates in a dispute over a captured fish, which leads him to hunt for four more fish in the name of science.

I must admit, this one is kind of creepy. Aquaman uses fish to round up four fish which are definitely dead. And the reason for getting those fish is to prove that there are enough of them to start fishing for in large quantities. This Aquaman really doesn't seem to mind the circle of life, but it is a bit strange to see him using fish to capture fish.

And then there's the dirty joke he plays on the frustrated fisherman. Admittedly, the guy hit the professor on the head and stole the fish Aquaman had been hunting, but still... take him to jail if you must. Don't promise him a big catch then leave him to figure out where you stuck his hook. Sheesh, Aquaman.

Finny Friends Report: Aquaman gets a luminescent deep sea fish to help him with light in a deep water cave. He battles two sea monsters for the fish he's after. Later, he watches an octopus chase a shark chasing a fish that's chasing one of the banded fish he's hunting. He throws a lobster at the octopus, which releases ink and Aquaman catches the banded fish in the confusion. The third fish hides among sea anemones, but Aquaman herds fish that eat anemones in among them and they flee, revealing the fish. A gull takes a fish, and Aquaman gets flying fish to knock the banded fish away from it. And when the other fisherman steals the professor's and Aquaman's catch, Aquaman has a bunch of large fish hold his boat steady in the water.

Captured/Knocked Out report: Aquaman is never captured or knocked out in this tale.

Quotefile: Aquaman to fisherman, "Thanks! Just for being so honest... I'll see that you get a big catch!" Aquaman hooks the fisherman's hook into the bottom of his own boat, "There! That'll teach you not to steal other people's fish!"

Have you read this story? What do you think?