Fishing from the earliest times - Blog

HIS NATURAL 777SrOi?y—ALEXANDERiiiand modes of capture. Of the hundred and ten only somefifty fish can be scientifically identified ; of which, all savesix come from the sea.This figure of about one hundred and ten speaks wondersfor his industry and knowledge. Even after the lapse of 1800years separating him from the sixteenth century, the list ofMediterranean fishes compiled by Belon comprises but a hundredor so, and by Rondolet but some one hundred and sixty names.Risso, writing as late as 1810, furnishes no more than threehundred and fifteen, of which he asserts that eighty-eighthad never been previously described.Not unnaturally, this industry and this knowledge causedour author to be at Athens not only a stumbling-block untothe wise, but "a very wonder unto fools," as the comedianssaid, who fastened on an occasional lapse, such as his theorythat the whole race of shell fish generate without connection.The Natural History nevertheless will always remain amonument of extraordinary diligence and mental vigour,especially when we bear in mind that he seemingly lacked anyantiseptic preparation for the preservation of specimens.His pre-eminence of merit isindicated by the fact that of allthe Greek and Latin authors he approximates nearest to someidea of zoological system.And yet this father of science and this founder of logicmakes a direct personal appeal to us as a man very human inhis life and tastes. Epicurus, " that most truthful of men," 1alleges that, when young, Aristotle went the pace, and squanderedhis patrimony in good living and other pleasant delights. Inaddition to his love for jewellery and personal adornment wediscover him as a great connoisseur of beautiful silver, ofwhich he bequeathed over seventy rare bowls. He ranks inopsophagy as an epicure of the highest order.It is curious to note that in Aristotle, who apparentlywas familiar with most, if not all, of the then existent methods,no mention, as far as I can recall, occurs of actual fishing, savehis story of the fight and escape of a big Glanis.He owed his knowledge largely to his intercourse with1 Athen., VIII. 50.