238 TACKLE—CURIOUS METHODS—SILURUS—EELS 
ancient bronze was made of tin and copper, not zinc and 
copper, as is our softer alloy, and was so hard that, Pliny tells 
us, it could be worked to represent the finest hair of a woman’s 
head. 
The Pompeian hooks were almost exclusively adapted for 
sea fishing, and are thus generally large in size, long in shank, 
and flattened at the top to facilitate attachment to the line. 
Plutarch’s statement that some hooks were straight, as 
distinct from the usual recurved sort, may possibly be indicative 
of a survival of the paleolithic gorge. Some of the Roman 
hooks are double-barbed, some are fixed 
back to back like eel-hooks, and fastened 
to wire to prevent erosion by the teeth. 
In the pursuit of large fish such as the Amia, 
hooks of a serpentine curve are recom- 
mended, “‘as these great fish manage to 
get loose from straight ones !”’ 
To the hook was fastened the bait 
(esca), usually worms, flies, and other in- 
sects. For large fish the bait was often 
cooked, because the scent was believed to 
offer an additional attraction. By a clever 
contrivance of small pieces of lead equally 
balanced and carefully attached the lure 
THE OLDEST MY- 
CEN#AN Hooks Was made to have the appearance of natural 
IN THE BRITISH movement. 
MUSEUM. 
The Reel ona fishing Rod was certainly 
unknown to Ancient Nations. Wilkinson figures something 
resembling a Reel being employed when spearing hippo- 
potamt.} 
The Amia (mentioned by Pliny, IX. 19, alone of all the 
Latin writers) is according to Oppian 2 a little smaller than the 
tunny, which reaches large proportions. Later,3 he recounts 
how the Amza furnishes sad labour and trouble to the fishermen 
from his habit, the moment he feels the hook, of instantly 
rising, of swallowing more line, and then of biting through 
the middle, ‘‘ or even the topmost hairs of it.” 
1 Op. cit., Pl. 378. * Bk, IT. 556. 3 Bk. III. 138-148. 
