242 TACKLE—CURIOUS METHODS—SILURUS—EELS 
that the sargi were present not a few, these multiplied by one 
hundred must have yielded quite a decent creel.} 
The second method owes its success to the love for music 
and for watching the dance, which Aristotle and lian assert 
to be characteristic of several fishes, but especially of the skate. 
The recipe of this method, far pleasanter, certainly less odori- 
ferous than that of the last, demands 1 Boat, 1 Violin, 
I big Net, 2 Men, one of whom fiddles, while the other dances 
as he unwinds the net. Attracted to the spot, and, like 
Wagner-devotees, so entirely absorbed by the melody as to be 
unconscious of all else, the skates fall easy and numerous 
victims to the slowly drawn net. 
This method seems “the limit.”’ It certainly trenched on 
even Badham’s credulity. He states that he would not have 
cited this statement of Alian’s, unless it had been “‘ singularly 
countenanced and confirmed by no less a person than the great 
French ichthyologist, Rondolet,’”’ whose mere name in this 
musical context must presumably carry conviction, for (as is 
not unusual with Badham) no reference is given.? 
The third method, employed by the Mysians for capturing 
the Silurus in big rivers like the Danube and the Volga, is set 
1 Cf. Oppian, IV. 375 ff. I. Walton, citing the Saygus as an example of 
‘the lustful fish,” quotes Dubartas, ‘‘ because none can express it better 
than he does,”’ whose last two lines, as examples of this perfect expression, 
I cannot resist, 
“Goes courting She-Goats on the grassie shore 
Horning their husbands, that had horns before.” 
2 But in confirmation of “ this statement of Alian,’’ Badham, had he 
taken the trouble, could have found several others by that and other authors. 
Thus lian, XVII. 18, of the Sea-roach. JIbid., VI. 31, of the Crab, which on 
hearing the flute and singing would not only quit the sea, but follow the 
retreating singer to dry land, and capture! lian, VI. 32, of the Thrissa 
states that it was caught by singing to it, and by the noise of shell clappers 
which induced the fish to dance itself into the Nets and boats. Cf. also 
Atheneus, VII. 137, where the Trichias is so delighted with singing and 
dancing, that when it hears music it leaps out of the sea and is enticed on land | 
Cf. also Herodotus, I. 141, for the story of Cyrus likening the Ionians to 
dancing fish. Not only were there fish that delighted in music and singing, 
like the dolphin (Pliny, IX. 8, musice arti, mulcetur symphonie cantu, sed 
precipue hydrauli sono), but according to Philostephanus there were others, 
that themselves made music, like the Poecilig, who “ sang like thrushes:” 
(cf. Pliny, XI. 112). Of singing fish Pausanias, VIII. 21. 2, says, ‘‘among the 
fish in the Aroanius are the so-called spotted fish: they say that they sing 
like a thrush. I saw them after they were caught, but I did not hear them 
utter a sound, though I tarried by the river till sunset, when they were said to 
sing most.” 
