26 LITERA TURE GF SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 



We will take Ausonius to represent the fourth century. 

 He is a notable piscatory writer, and is the first Latin poet 

 who mentions the salmon under its present title : — 



" Nee te puniceo rutilantem viseere sabno 

 Transierim." 



And in another passage : — 



" Purpureusque salar stellatus tergora guttis." 



He further also distinguishes it by different names, accord- 

 ing to its age, as it is distinguished now ; though modern 

 nomenclature, varying as it does in so many different 

 districts in the United Kingdom, leads to great confusion, 

 and has been a bar to the advancement of knowledge as 

 regards salmonoid biology. He mentions also the trout 

 and grayling, the latter under its significant title of 

 " umbra " (umber), given it because of its quickly passing 

 out of sight by its rapid movements like a " shadow " : — 



" Effugiens oeulis celeri umbra natatu." 



Ausonius seems to be the first author in prose or poetry 

 who introduces the pike or jack {Esox lucius). Thus : — 



" The wary luce, midst wrack and rushes hid, 

 The scourge and terror of the scaly brood ;" 



and, gastronomically deprecating him, adds : — 



" Unknown at friendship's hospitable board. 

 Smokes 'midst the smoky tavern's coarsest food." 



The Mosella (Moselle) is Ausonius's chief work, in which 

 he describes the beauty of the river, the fish therein, and 

 the anglers who take them thereout. Here is a picture 

 of angling in the passage beginning with " Ille autem 

 scopulis ; " and though it might run better in a metrical 

 translation, reads fairly well as given by Mr. Lambert : — 



" While the other, stooping over the rocks towards the waters 

 below, lowers the bending top of his limber rod, casting his hooks 



