Fish vs Fishes

[Freeguy]

There are so many ___ that they can be seen by satellites!
1. fish
2. fishes

Which one and why? (In my opinion both can fit here.)

 

[bhaisahab]

We use "fish".

 

[MikeNewYork]

The only time we use "fishes" is when we are referring to diffeernt species of fish.

 

[Weaver67]

I remember coming across "fishes" in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Does anybody remeber "How Doth the Little Crocodile..."?

"How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!"

I am wondering whether this use of "fishes" refers to different spieces as well. Or maybe it is just as common in modern English as the use of "doth" instead of "does"?

 

[Raymott]

"Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea"
'Fishes' is a legitimate plural for fish, especially when you're writing a song that requires a two-syllable word.
No, it doesn't imply different species.

 

[tzfujimino]

"Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea"

Joy to you and me!
:-D

 

[Rover_KE]

And welcomes little fishes in
With gently smiling jaws!"

I am wondering whether this use of "fishes" refers to different spieces as well.

No. The poet needed a two-syllable word to fit the metre of the verse.