THE ANCIENTS. 7 



The most favourite mode of fishing, among the Egyptians, 

 who took a pleasure in it, and prided themselves on their 

 skill in the art, was with the bident spear. The anglers 

 stood on the banks of a canal or river, but generally used 

 a punt or boat made of papyrus, in which they glided 

 smoothly over the waters, within their own grounds, 

 without disturbing the fish as they lay beneath the broad 

 leaves of the lotus plant. The custom of angling for 

 amusement, and spearing with the bident, was considered 

 peculiar to the aristocratic portion of the community ; 

 the poorer classes contenting themselves with the use of 

 the net and hook. 4 



Herodotus writes on Fish and Fisheries, and tells us that 

 a large sum was annually produced by the fisheries of the 

 Lake Moaris. " During six months," says he, " the 

 water of the river flows into it, and during the remaining 

 half of the year it returns from the lake into the Nile. 

 At this time, while the waters are retiring, the profits 

 derived from the fisheries, and paid daily into the royal 

 treasury, amount to a talent of silver ; and during the 

 other six months, when the water flows from the Nile into 

 the lake, the profits do not exceed twenty minse," or 

 about 64. 12s. of our money. He likewise tells us, 

 that this Moeris, from whom the Lake derived its 

 name, and who was supposed to have constructed the 

 canal, had arranged the sluices for the introduction 

 of the water, and established everything connected with 



4 Strabo, lib. 17. 



