The way of
accounting for this phenomenon is that this fish, and this one only,
swims northwards into the Danube, and then at the point of its
bifurcation swims down southwards into the Adriatic. And, as a proof
that this theory is correct, the very opposite phenomenon presents
itself in the Adriatic; that is to say, they are not caught in that
sea during their entry, but are caught during their exit.
Tunny-fish swim into the Euxine keeping the shore on their
right, and swim out of it with the shore upon their left. It is stated
that they do so as being naturally weak-sighted, and seeing better
with the right eye.
During the daytime shoal-fish continue on their way, but
during the night they rest and feed. But if there be moonlight, they
continue their journey without resting at all. Some people
accustomed to sea-life assert that shoal-fish at the period of the
winter solstice never move at all, but keep perfectly still wherever
they may happen to have been overtaken by the solstice, and this lasts
until the equinox.
The coly-mackerel is caught more frequently on entering than
on quitting the Euxine. And in the Propontis the fish is at its best
before the spawning season.
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