Clinp. 9.] 
DOLPHINS. 
375 
narrow outlet of this lake, at stated seasons of the year in- 
numerable multitudes of mullets make their way into the sea, 
taking advantage of the turn of the tide ; hence it is that it is 
quite impossible to employ nets sufficiently strong to bear so 
vast a weight, even though the fish had not the instinctive 
shrewdness to watch their opportunity. Ey a similar instinct 
the fish immediately make with all speed towards the deep 
water which is found in a gulf in that vicinity, and hasten to 
escape from the only spot that is at all convenient for spread- 
ing the nets. As soon as ever the fishermen perceive this, all 
the people — for great multitudes resort thither, being well 
aware of the proper time, and especially desirous of sharing 
in the amusement — shout as loud as they can, and summon 
Simo to the scene of action. The dolphins very quickly under- 
stand that they are in requisition, as a north-east wind speedily 
carries the sound to their retreats, though a south one would 
somewhat retard it by carrying it in an opposite direction. 
Even then however, sooner than you could have possibly sup- 
posed, there are the dolphins, in all readines&.to assist. They 
are seen approaching in all haste in battle array, and, imme- 
diately taking up their position when the engagement is about 
to take place, they cut off all escape to the open sea,^ and drive 
the terrified fish into shallow water. The fishermen then throw 
their nets, holding them up at the sides with forks, though the 
mullets with inconceivable agility instantly leap over them 
on the shores of Languedoc, and refers to D'Astruc's Memoirs on the Na- 
tural History of that province. The dolphins, however, he says, no longer 
take part in the sport ; and he observes that the same story is told by 
JElian, B. ii. c. 8, and Alhertus Magnus, De Anim. B. xxiv., with reference 
to other places. Oppian, in his Halieutica, B. v., makes Euboea the scene 
of these adventures, while Alhertus Magnus speaks of the shores of Italy. 
Eondelet, in his Book on Fishes, says that it used to take place on the 
coasts of Spain, near Palamos. Cuvier suggests, with Belon and D*Astruc, 
that the story arose from the fact that the dolphins, while pursuing the 
shoals of mullets, sometimes drove them into the creeks and salt-water lakes 
on the coast ; a fact which has been sometimes found to cause the fish to 
be caught in greater abundance. 
Dalechamps tells us that the people of MontpeUier call this outlet 
"La Crau," and that it is in the vicinity of Mangueil. 
86 'Were it not for the word " nihilominus here, it would look as if the 
meaning were, that although the ends of the nets are hoisted up, the fish 
are so active that they jump over the side, and thus get enclosed. By the 
use of that word, however, it would seem to mean, that although the sides 
are hoisted up, the fish are so nimble, that they clear the nets altogether. 
