376 ON THE PLACE OF FISH IN 



all depicted. Angling for sport was practised by the 

 wealthy, as is indicated by the dress of the angler 

 comfortably seated, and by the presence of attendants. 

 The net was used by the poor, and the spearing 

 trident by the sportsman. 



Fishing was under Imperial control, and Herodotus 

 mentions that the profits from the fisheries of Lake 

 Mceris and its canals paid daily into the treasury 

 amounted to a talent of silver, about 193 15^., during 

 the six months the waters were retiring. 



After the time of the XlXth dynasty, B.C. 1269 to 

 1 1 80, when fish became a recognised luxury of the 

 banquet, and was imported from the distant waters 

 of the Orontes, Euphrates, Halys, and the lakes of 

 Palestine and North Syria, the Egyptians, like most 

 nations in periods of luxury, turned their attention to 

 fish culture : and the vivaria, or ponds, formed an 

 important part of the domestic establishment of an 

 Egyptian retem or noble. 



Salted and dried fish, as well as fresh, formed a 

 portion of the diet of the Egyptian ; and the former 

 was especially prescribed as the food to be eaten on 

 fast days. 



In consequence of the attention given to fish as an 

 article of diet during the golden age of Egypt, 

 three kinds were strictly prohibited. These were the 

 Oxyrhynchus the mezdeh of the Arabs ; the Phagrus, 

 or eel, which to this day is avoided by Orientals, chiefly 

 on account of its unwholesome qualities; and the 

 Lepidotus, which Dr. Birch suggests as the Kelt-el- 

 Bahr, or Nile dogfish, which was not eaten, probably 

 on account of its unpleasant appearance. 

 The Hebrews. The Hebrews, who had formed part of the poorer 



