484 FISHERIES AND FISHERMEN 



This in his sides receives the rushing wound, 



Hung by the back another twirls around ; 



Another's breast the thirsty steel divides, 



Breaks through the veins and drinks the vital tides. 



But gentler arts ensnare the youthful train, 



Entangled in the thready bosomed seine. 



When gloomy night obscures the frowning deep, 



In oozy beds the scaly nations sleep, 



All but the tunny's brood ; with wakeful care 



Each sound they dread, and ev'ry motion fear, 



Start from their caverns, and assist the snare. 



" The silent fishers in the calm profound 

 With circling nets a spacious spot surround, 

 While others in the midst with flatted oars 

 The wavy surface lash, old Ocean roars ; 

 Murm'ring with frothy rage beneath the blow, 

 And trembles to remotest deeps below. 

 The dreadful din alarms the tim'rous fry ; 

 They fondly to the net's protection fly." 



Some notice of an imperial edict published' by Dio- 

 cletian may form an appropriate conclusion to this brief 

 review of classical fishing. It is remarkable, both because 

 it fixes the current price of fish at the time, and also 

 because from the form of the titles it favours the belief that 

 the empire was not recognised as a formally amalgamated 

 entity, but as a collection of separate kingdoms united under 

 a single head, like the crowns of Austria and Hungary, and 

 not those of England and of Scotland. 



" [Imperator Caesar Caius Aurelius Ualerius Diocletianus Pius Felix 

 Invictus Augustus Po]ntifex Maximus Germanicus Maximus VI 

 Sarmaticus Maximus nil Persicus Maximus II Brittanicus Maximus 

 Carpicus Maximus Armenicus Maximus Medicus Maximus Adia- 

 benicus M Tribunicia potestate xvni Consul vn Imperator xvm 

 Pater Patriae Proconsul. Et Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius 

 Ualerius Maximianus Pius Felix Invictus Augustus Pontifex Maximus 

 Germanicus Maximus v Sarm[aticus Maximus ill Persicus Maximus 

 Brittanicus Maximus Carpicus Maximus Armenicus Maximus Medicus 

 Maximus Adiabenicus Maximus Trijbunicia Potestate xvn Consul vi 



