FISH IN GENERAL. 33 



them among the first for his prey. Many entirely ichthyo- 

 phagous tribes still subsist, and among civilised nations many 

 families draw nearly the whole of their sustenance from fish- 

 ing. Those who dwell on islands and coasts watch and 

 catch the numerous species haunting their rocks, and more 

 adventurous seamen sail to distant parts, for the purpose of 

 attacking the shoals of migratory fish in the middle of the 

 ocean ; and while the finny produce supplies the community 

 at large, it is not the less an object of the greatest luxury to 

 the rich. When Rome was the abyss where the treasures of 

 the world were swallowed up, sums were expended on this 

 particular kind of luxury, which to us appear almost incre- 

 dible. Immense preserves were dug for both sea and fresh 

 water fish ; some were conveyed living from distant seas, 

 others were produced alive upon the table, where it was 

 thought entertaining to observe the varying hues of their 

 expiring state l . By the assiduous cultivation of this species 

 of economy an impression appears to have been made upon 

 the habits of fish greater than might have been expected 

 from their nature ; some were taught to know their master, 

 and attended to their proper names when called ; for such, 

 at least, are the relations of authors who notice the facts, as 

 a surprising effect of industry stimulated by luxury 2 . 



1 " Mullum expirantem versicolor i quadam et numerosa varietate 

 spectari, proceres gulae narrant ; rubentium squammarum multiplici rau- 

 tatione pallescentem ; utique si vitro spectetur inclusus." Plin. 1. ix. c. 17- 

 See also Seneca, Quest. Nat. 1. iii. c. 18. and Petron. Carm. de Bell. 

 Civil, v. 33. 



2 Martial, 1. iv. Ep. 30. v. 3. 



" Sacris piscibus ha; natantur unda?, 



Qui norunt dominum manumque lambunt 

 Illam qua nihil est in orbe majus. 

 Quid quod nomen habent et ad magistri 

 Vocem quisque sui venit citatus." 

 VOL. X. D 



