AUTHORS ON SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 



In the 1 2th Odyssey (251) "a very long fishing-rod" is 

 spoken of; and in a passage a Httle further on the com- 

 panions of Ulysses resort to fishing " with crooked hooks " ; 

 and yet another passage refers to the use of pieces of bullock's 

 horn in fishing, which, by the way, does not mean that 

 the hook was made of this material, but that the piece 

 of horn was slipped down the line to prevent the fish 

 biting through it. The Greek tragedians frequently allude 

 to fishing. Aristotle shows a wonderful knowledge of fish, 

 and in his Animalia recognises 117 different kinds. Theo- 

 critus, the Sicilian, who flourished about 270 B.C., and of 

 whose Idylls there are several English translations, may 

 fairly claim rank as an ancient piscatory poet. In his 

 2 1st Idyll a fisherman is represented as recounting a 

 dream of the previous night — 



" Methought I sat upon a shelfy steep, 

 And watch'd the fish that gamboU'd in the deep." 



A huge one takes the " bait fallacious, suspended from 

 his rod " ; and then is described the " playing " of the fish, 

 as best it could be played in an era before winches and 

 running lines were thought of : — 



" Bent was my rod, and from his gills the blood 

 With crimson stream distain'd the silver flood ; 

 I stretch'd my arm out lest the hook should break — 

 The flesh so vigorous, and my hook so weak ! 

 Anxious I gaz'd ; he struggled to be gone : 

 You're wounded — I'll be with you, friend, anon — 

 Still do you tease me .'' — for he plagu'd me sore. 

 At last, quite spent, I drew him safe on shore, 

 Then graspt him with my hand, for surer hold : 

 A noble prize, a fish of solid gold ! " 



This is rather a poor translation, but it will answer its 

 purpose. Perhaps that by Chapman (Bohn, 1853) is the 

 best. 



