Scientists are always looking for ways to predict earthquakes. If an accurate prediction can be made far enough in advance people can be told to leave the area and lives can be saved.
Japan is one of the major earthquake areas in the world. You could say the Japanese are earthquake professionals.
So it is not surprising to learn that they have noticed a relationship between animal behavior and earthquakes.
Just before the 1855 earthquake a fisherman reported nervous catfish. They swam to and from in the water as oncoming quake. He hurried home and managed to save his family minuter before the tremor struck.
Catfish were also said to have acted in the same restless way just before the 1923 Tokyo earthquake.