242 TACKLE— CURIOUS METHODS ~S I LURUS— EELS 



that the sargi were present not a few, these multiplied by one 

 hundred must have yielded quite a decent creel. ^ 



The second method owes its success to the love for music 

 and for watching the dance, which Aristotle and iElian assert 

 to be characteristic of several fishes, but especially of the skate. 

 The recipe of this method, far pleasanter, certainly less odori- 

 ferous than that of the last, demands i Boat, i Violin, 

 I big Net, 2 Men, one of whom fiddles, while the other dances 

 as he unwinds the net. Attracted to the spot, and, like 

 Wagner-devotees, so entirely absorbed by the melody as to be 

 unconscious of all else, the skates fall easy and numerous 

 victims to the slowly drawn net. 



This method seems " the limit." It certainly trenched on 

 even Badham's credulity. He states that he would not have 

 cited this statement of ^Elian's, unless it had been " singularly 

 countenanced and confirmed by no less a person than the great 

 French ichthyologist, Rondolet," whose mere name in this 

 musical context must presumably carry conviction, for (as is 

 not unusual with Badham) no reference is given. 2 



The third method, employed by the Mysians for capturing 

 the Silurus in big rivers like the Danube and the Volga, is set 



^ Cf. Oppian, IV. 375 ff. I. Walton, citing the Sargus as an example of 

 " the lustful fish," quotes Dubartas, " because none can express it better 

 than he does," whose last two lines, as examples of this perfect expression, 

 I cannot resist, 



" Goes courting She-Goats on the grassie shore 

 Horning their husbands, that had horns before." 



* But in confirmation of " this statement of ^han," Badham, had he 

 taken the trouble, could have found several others by that and other authors. 

 Thus JEha.n, XVII. 18, of the Sea-roach Ibid., VI. 31, of the Crab, which on 

 hearing the flute and singing would not only quit the sea, but follow the 

 retreating singer to dry land, and capture ! ^Elian, VI. 32, of the Thrissa 

 states that it was caught by singing to it, and by the noise of sheU clappers 

 which induced the fish to dance itself into the Nets and boats. Cf. also 

 Athenaeus, VII. 137, where the Trichias is so deUghted with singing and 

 dancing, that when it hears music it leaps out of the sea and is enticed on land I 

 Cf. also Herodotus, I. 141, for the story of Cyrus likening the lonians to 

 dancing fish. Not only were there fish that delighted in music and singing, 

 hke the dolphin (Pliny, IX. 8, musicae arti, mulcetur symphoniae cantu, sed 

 praecipue hydrauli sono), but according to Philostephanus there were others, 

 that themselves made music, hke the Poecilics, who " sang like thrushes' " 

 (cf. Pliny, XL 112). Of singing fish Pausanias, VIII. 21. 2, says, " among the 

 fish in the Aroanius are the so-called spotted fish : they say that they sing 

 like a thrush. I saw them after they were caught, but I did not hear them 

 utter a sound, though I tarried by the river till sunset, when they were said to 

 sing most." 



