Page "Pern" Paragraph 33

A genetically altered breed of dolphins, subsequently called shipfish by the native population ( due to their tendency to follow ships ), accompanied humans to Pern.

These dolphins had greatly increased intelligence, including a degree of telepathic ability, and had developed means of verbally communicating with humans because of the genetic metasynth enhancement.

Unlike many of the other animals that accompanied humans, dolphins took to their new home well.

They were trained to come to the sound of bells, help troubled sailors in the oceans, and inform sailors and fishermen about the currents and fish.

Unfortunately, intelligent contact between dolphins and humans was soon lost following the first thread fall, as the humans struggled for survival.

For much of Pernese history they were not known to the human population as intelligent beings, and were considered as merely another animal, though forbidden and unlucky to harm.

While the dolphins were forgotten about by the humans, the dolphins remembered the contract between the two species ( made when the two species originally arrived on Pern ), and continued to help sailors in distress, and returning lost cargo to shore, awaiting the day when humans would remember and again honour the old contract.