From Dan Lufkin
Your report that fish find massage soothing comes as no surprise to scuba divers (19 November, p 7). Several species seem to find divers interesting, and will often hang around to be scratched and patted. Groupers, in particular, like to have their bellies rubbed.
Recently, diving off Little Cayman, I met a grouper about 10 metres down which swam below me for 20 minutes. I could put my hands around it and squeeze. The fish would shimmy out ahead, then come back into position for another treatment. Personally, I could no more eat a grouper than I could a cocker spaniel.
Frederick, Maryland, US
