A CURIOUS DEVICE. 



123 



fish-markets, averaging from four feet to six. The flesh, 

 which is much valued by the better classes at Palermo, is 

 dressed in nearly as many ways as the tunny, but fetches 

 a higher price. Its fibre is delicately white, and the 

 round segments, as they lie in rows along the stalls, re- 

 semble so many fillets of veal; and the resemblance is 

 equally apparent when they are served at table. 



Oppian records a curious device to which the ancient 

 fishermen resorted for the purpose of entrapping the 

 spada. They made use of boats constructed like the 



^SF^^ 



CATCHING SWORD-FISH IN THE OLDEN TIME. 



sword-fish, with a long prow to resemble its beak, and 

 painted with the deep colours peculiar to it. The scomber, 

 which is reputed to be a dull fish, approached these shams 

 in confidence, mistaking them for new acquaintances of 

 their own kind, and did not discover the mistake until it 

 was too late. 



" To fishy form, the artistic builders lend 

 Mimetic fins, and wooden sword protend. 

 With social joy each xiphias views his friends, 

 And kindly instincts aid man's treacherous ends. 



