SUKMUl-LET. 121.3 



discrimination of nearly-allied species even among tlic most 

 observant writers, in ancient times; and we liave reason to 

 believe also, that in some of tlic stranger tales handed down 

 to us, the larger, and to us more familiar fish, was truly that 

 to which the narrative refers. 



Besides the enormous cost that was unavoidable in the form- 

 ation of some of the fishponds into which salt water was 

 admitted, the expense was scarcely less for preserving those 

 which survived the capture in that healthy condition in which 

 it was necessary they should appear if carried to the market; 

 for it caused their owner to be subject to sharp criticism if 

 any marks of neglect or underfeeding could be noticed in 

 them. We are informed that in his private ponds Ilortensius 

 was accustomed to employ a large number of men in attending 

 to the Avants of his ^Mullets by supplying them with small 

 fishes; and they were supplied Avith salt fish when boisterous 

 Aveather proA^ed a hindrance to his obtaining food from the 

 sea. Lucullus is sufficiently knoAvn for the great expense he 

 Avas at in forming his ponds, and especially for the enormous 

 cost of digging through a hill, to obtain a passage into them 

 for the Avater of the sea; and yet he Avas blamed by Horten- 

 sius for Avant of care in alloAving his fish to remain in 

 Avhat he considered an unhealthy situation. He declared that 

 he Avould bestoAv more attention on his sick fishes than on 

 his sick servants; and this care of his extended to the furnish- 

 ing them Avith water artificially Avarmed, Avhile his sick servants 

 Avere left Avithout any such conveniency. He Avould even be 

 better reconciled to the loss of one of the chariot-mules from 

 his stable than that he should lose a mullet from his pond. — 

 (Varro, De re Rustica, B. iii, C. 17.) 



Nor Avas this feeling to be ascribed to the merely pecuniary 

 value of these fishes, although the prevalence of fashion Avas 

 such, that those Avho Avcre desirous of liaA'ing a name among 

 the high and noble, and for that purpose of making a display 

 of luxury, Avere ready to pay an extravagant price for the 

 coveted dish. Martial has an epigram on one Avho sold a 

 A'aluable slaA'e, that Avith the price he might for once thus in- 

 dulge himself, and bo talked of, although, in fact, he gave his 

 guests but little else to eat. And wc hear of another of these 

 apes of the rich and the noble, Avho Avonld not be Avifhout 



