Again, a number of fishes live in caves; and
accordingly fishermen, when they want to entice them out, smear the
mouth of a cave with strong-smelling pickles, and the fish are Soon
attracted to the smell. And the eel is caught in a similar way; for
the fisherman lays down an earthen pot that has held pickles, after
inserting a 'weel' in the neck thereof. As a general rule, fishes
are especially attracted by savoury smells. For this reason, fishermen
roast the fleshy parts of the cuttle-fish and use it as bait on
account of its smell, for fish are peculiarly attracted by it; they
also bake the octopus and bait their fish-baskets or weels with it,
entirely, as they say, on account of its smell. Furthermore,
gregarious fishes, if fish washings or bilge-water be thrown
overboard, are observed to scud off to a distance, from apparent
dislike of the smell. And it is asserted that they can at once
detect by smell the presence of their own blood; and this faculty is
manifested by their hurrying off to a great distance whenever
fish-blood is spilt in the sea. And, as a general rule, if you bait
your weel with a stinking bait, the fish refuse to enter the weel or
even to draw near; but if you bait the weel with a fresh and savoury
bait, they come at once from long distances and swim into it.
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