Brin’s Manifesto

Writer-Fish (Salmo Allogus)

Other Names and Range
The writer-fish is a freshwater species. It is also known as the scribble-fish, the keyboard-fish, and the ink-fish. Its primary habitat is Oregon’s Willamette Valley, although sightings have been reported as far east as Ohio.

Description
The writer-fish exhibits a large range of adult sizes, usually ranging from 200 to 10,000 words, although the largest recorded specimen was over 60,000 words. The fish’s coloration is often white with black markings, although blue markings are not entirely uncommon. Scales are between a sixteenth and an eighth of an inch in size, usually slightly slanted to the right.

Life Course
Spawning takes place near stacks of papers and computers. The immature form of the writer-fish, known as the outline, usually takes between two and four weeks to mature. Outlines dwell in the dusty depths of libraries, content to feed on both primary and secondary sources.

Adult writer-fish feed on critique and revision, usually seeking out their prey in areas of calm, clear water. The adult lifespan of a writer-fish is between two months and a year, although some specimens may survive much longer.

Status
The writer-fish is currently not listed as endangered, although it may be threatened in some parts of its range. Recent wildland firefighting activity has disrupted its usual spawning season, although this activity may also have yielded some positive effects. Current efforts to restore habitat on desks and dining-room tables have met with some success.

Popularity
The writer-fish is not generally considered a well-known or oft-sought game fish, although it enjoys some popularity in the academic and electronic fishing communities. Yields have dropped off considerably in the last two years, although this year has marked what may be the beginning of a marked increase.