HALIEUTICA, III. 459-481 



to escape. When the sea boils with stormy flood, 

 a man stands upon a jutting sea-beaten chff," where 

 the wave bellows loudly on the rocks, and scatters 

 dainties * in the breaking waves, even cheese mixed 

 with flour "^ ; and the Melanurus rush eagerly upon 

 the welcome food. But when they are gathered 

 together within range of his cast, he himself turns 

 his body aside, that he may not cast his shadow on 

 the water, and the fish be frightened. In his hands 

 he holds ready a thin rod and a thin line of Hght 

 hair all untwined, whereon are strung numerous hght 

 hooks. On these he puts the same bait as before 

 he cast in the water, and lets it down into the deep 

 turmoil of the waves. Seeing it the Melanurus 

 immediately rush upon it and snatch — their own 

 destruction. Nor does the fisher hold his hand at 

 rest, but ever and again draws up his hooks from the 

 eddying waters, even if they be often empty. For 

 in the seething sea he cannot mark for certain 

 whether a fish is hooked or whether it is but the 

 waves that shake the line. But when a fish swallows 

 the hook, swiftly he pulls him forth, ere he thinks 

 of guile, ere he cause fright to the feeble Melanurus. 

 In such wise he accomphshes his treacherous fishing 

 in stormy weather. 



de farine melee de froraage \cf. Tvpov onov X-q^np-pi /j.€fj.i-y/j.evov 

 4fi3] et on laisse le liege, amorce, libre dans la mer. Les 



Kissons en venant manger I'appat avalent aussi 1 hame^on. 

 irsqu'ils se deplacent ils entrainent avec eux le liege, ce 

 qu'avertit le pecheur qui vient les raraasser. Cette peche 

 est excessivement amusante. Quand on emploie une grande 

 quantite de lieges et que le poisson mord, c'est un perpetuel 

 va-et-vient pour decrocher les poissons qui s'y sout pris et 

 amorcer de nouveau les engins." 



' Ar]nr)Tpt : for the metonymy lor bread or flour c/. 

 C. i. 434 n. and 484 below. 



2c 385 



