238 TACKLE— CURIOUS METHODS— S/If/2^t75— EELS 



ancient bronze was made of tin and copper, not zinc and 

 copper, as is our softer alloy, and was so hard that, Pliny tells 

 us, it could be worked to represent the finest hair of a woman's 

 head. 



The Pompeian hooks were almost exclusively adapted for 

 sea fishing, and are thus generally large in size, long in shank, 

 and flattened at the top to facilitate attachment to the line. 



Plutarch's statement that some hooks were straight, as 

 distinct from the usual recurved sort, may possibly be indicative 

 of a survival of the palaeolithic gorge. Some of the Roman 

 . : hooks are double-barbed, some are fixed 



back to back like eel-hooks, and fastened 

 to wire to prevent erosion by the teeth. 

 In the pursuit of large fish such as the Amia, 

 hooks of a serpentine curve are recom- 

 mended, " as these great fish manage to 

 get loose from straight ones ! " 



To the hook was fastened the bait 

 {esca), usually worms, flies, and other in- 

 sects. For large fish the bait was often 

 cooked, because the scent was believed to 

 offer an additional attraction. By a clever 

 contrivance of small pieces of lead equally 

 balanced and carefully attached the lure 

 was made to have the appearance of natural 

 movement. 



The Reel on a fishing Rod was certainly 

 unknown to Ancient Nations. Wilkinson figures something 

 resembling a Reel being employed when spearing hippo- 

 potami. 1 



The Amia (mentioned by Pliny, IX. 19, alone of all the 

 Latin writers) is according to Oppian 2 a little smaller than the 

 tunny, which reaches large proportions. Later, 3 he recounts 

 how the Amia furnishes sad labour and trouble to the fishermen 

 from his habit, the moment he feels the hook, of instantly 

 rising, of swallowing more line, and then of biting through 

 the middle, " or even the topmost hairs of it." 



1 op. cit., PI. 378. « Bk. 11. 556. =• Ek. III. 13S-148. 



THE OLDEST MY- 

 CEN^AN HOOKS 

 IN THE BRITISH 

 MUSEUM. 



