HALIEUTICA, III. 276-306 



But the fisher should be a powerful man and land 

 his fish by force of strength or else a second man 

 should lend a hand in his labour. For so, un^\-itting 

 of their crafty doom, fattened themselves they fitly 

 fatten others ; and always when thou \\ilt, successful 

 fishing shall be thine. 



Others trust in their valiant might and strength 

 of hmb when they array the great adventure against 

 the Anthias, not cultivating friendship nor proffering 

 food but having recourse at once to the pointed hook 

 and overcoming the fish by their valour. The hook 

 is fashioned of hard bronze or iron, and two separate 

 barbs are attached to the great rope of twisted flax. 

 On it they fix a live Basse — if a live one be at hand ; 

 but if it be a dead one, speedily one puts in its mouth 

 a piece of lead, which they call a dolphin " ; and the 

 fish, under the weight of the lead, moves his head to 

 and fro, as if ahve. The hne is strong and well- woven. 

 \Mien the Anthias hear the noise and leap from the 

 sea, then some attend to the labour of the oar, while 

 the fisherman from the stem-end lets down the 

 crooked snare into the sea, gently waving it about. 

 And the fishes all straightway follow the ship and 

 seeing before their eyes what seems to be a fleeing 

 fish, they rush in haste after the banquet, each striv- 

 ing to outstrip the other : thou wouldst say it was a 

 foeman plying swift knees in pursuit of ^ routed 

 foe : and they are eager for goodly \'ictory. Now 

 whichever fish the fisher sees to be best, to it he 

 offers the banquet, and with eager gape it rushes 

 after the gift that is no gift. Thereupon thou shalt 

 see the valour of both, such a struggle there is as 

 man and captive fish contend. His strong arms and 



« H. iv. 81 n. 



371 



