Fishing (Hastings' Dictionary)

The natural history of Palestine fish has been little studied. Along the coast there are the usual Mediterranean varieties, with an undue proportion of mullet. Some 33 varieties of fresh-water fish have been counted in the Jordan Valley, where lish swarm in Galilee as remarked by Tristram, and in the waters of Merom one may see tons taken in one day by a dragnet. The fact that the fish of this basin resemble African species was first observed by Josephus.

' There are several kinds of fish in it (Galilee), different both to the taste and sight from those elsewhere.' Also he says of the Capharnaum fountain, ' it produces the Coracin fish' (B.I in. X. 8). Several Nilotic species .abound. The Cliromides, carp-like, are called by the Arabs 'combs,' from their flat shape and projecting spines. Of the SiluridiB, sheat fish (Clarias Macracan- thus, Arab. Bcrboot) grows to the size of 3 or 4 ft. ; its flesh is much prized.

Most abundant are the barbel and bream, while dace, bleak, and loaches are found. Eels are in many streams, and swarm in the Orontes. Near Tripoli is a pool full of sacred fish. Fossil fish, beautifully preserved in the Lebanon limestone, are of existing genera. While not strictly fish, we may mention that along the coast are dolphins, seals, and whales — the two latter very rare.

The 'badger skins'(AV Ex 26") were probably of the Red Sea dugong, a marine mammal, whose skin is used now ; and the Hebrew term c'nri corresponds to Arab, tu/ias, which includes this animal. Fishes technically are not mentioned in the creative acts of the fifth period except as included in the terms pc*, lit. 'swarmer' (AV 'moving creature'), and D-Vian D-j-jm (AV 'great whales,' RV ' great sea-monsters '). The first of these terms occurs more specifically Lv 11'° D:5n ]-isi.

The dominion of man, however, it is interesting to note, is given over fish, o-n '31 (Gn 1**, renewed Gn 9-, cf. Ps 88). Fish were a staple article of diet in Egypt, and their loss part of the plague (Ex V"- -'). The Israelites murmured, ' we remember the fish we did eat freely' (Nu 11'). The ceremonial law declared all that had not ' fins and scales ' an 'abomination' (Lv U"-'-).

The repeated prohibi- tion of worship of anything ' that is in the water under the earth' (Ex 20-'), 'the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth ' (Dt 4'*), was needed, for the Philistines worshipped Dagon = 'little fish ' (1 S 5^ ; but see art. Dagon). It has also bejn alleged (but see Baethgen, Rel.-gea. GO) that ' Sldon w.ns the fish "oddess of Phffinicia (Tristram). Tliis cult existed both in Assyria and India. Solomon, in his wisdom, ' spake of the fishes' (1 K 4^).

In tlie time of Nehemiah, fish, probably cured, were brought by the Tyrians to Jerusalem (Neh 13'°), where we know there was a 'Fish-gate.' See Jerusalem. The 'great fish ('jhj r\ Jon 1") prepared' for Jonah has been supposed to be a shark or whale. Both AV and RV tr. Krp-os in Mt l^"" ' whale ' (RVm 'sea-monster'). The fact that a killer-whale, 21 ft. long, can swallow porpoises and seals would im])ly that a much larger whale might swallow a man. Part of the skeleton of a whale, 43 ft.

long, is in the museum of the Syr. Prot. College, Beirflt. The carcass of this whale was cast by a storm on the coast near Tyre. As a type of restoration, Ezk 47'" " tells us tnat in the Dead Sea ' shall be a very great multitude of fish.' ' These fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding m.any.' Fish in NT brought a livelihood to the apostles ; they are one of the 'good gifts' (Mt 7'°) twice miraculously multiplied to the multitudes (Mt 17""- 15'^"-).

Broiled fish was eaten by our Saviour (Lk 24''^) and given by Him to the disciples (Jn 21'- '^). The discrimination between good and bad fish is used as a type of final separation of classes of men (Mt 13**). 'Po the early Cliristians the fish became a sacred symbol, the Greek word ix^vt being formed by the initial letters of the four Gr. words used in the confession, 'Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour' ('lT;(roi;s XpiffTot, QeoS vlos, Swrjjp). See D.C.A. s.v. 'IxSvs.

As formerly, so now, in the East fishing is the occupation of the simple and poor, and wholly un- known as a pastime. The methods and means have likewise changed but little. These were principally — (1) The small net cast by hand, mn (Ezk 26'- '* 32' 47'°, Hab l'»- ", Mic 7-, Ec 7-»), SUtvov (Mt 4-» etc.), &iJi<t>l^\-r,<TTpov (Mt 4", Mk 1'°). This is very commonly employed still.

The present wTiter has watched its use at Tabiglia (probably Bethsaida), where fish gather at the outlet of streams into the lake. (2) The seine, nnbDO (Is 19') or nny^p (Hab 1'°), aaynvrf. This was used in two ways — either let down into the deep and drawn together in a narrowing circle and then dra\vn into the boat or boats (Lk 5*"°), or as a semicircle drawn to the shore (Mt 13"). Both these methods are seen daily. (3) The hook, n^n (Is 19», Job 41'), n;^, td (Am 4^), iyKiarpov (Mt IT-'').

This was used ^^"ith a line, San, but no mention is made of a rod, as fly-fishing is unknown. Hab 1" mentions aU the three methods we have described. (4) The harpoon or spear (Job 41'), EV ' barbed irons' (nisi?), 'fish spears' (O'jn Ss^V). This is a method depicted on Egyptian and As.syrian monu ments. At present it is practised only at night by torchlight.

In spite of the mistranslations ' fish pools ' (Ca 7* AV), 'ponds for fish' (Is 19'° AV), there is no e\'idence that the pools of the Bible were use 1 for fish culture. Tlie Turkish Government now taxes fishing as an occupation, and also takes 20 per cent, of the price of the fish sold in the seaports, and collects this again if the fish are taken to another port. The fisheries of Merom and Galilee are f.armeu out to contractors, who forbid all others to engage in the trade.

As an occupation fishing has been honoured by the selection of its followers as apostles ; by being the object of Jesus' special favour on two occasions FISH-GATE FLAX IS (Lk 5"-, Jn 21) ; and chosen as the type of earnest, skilful soul-saving (Mk 1", Lk 51"). W. K. Eddy.