Page:The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous substances 2.djvu/508

 both their casting-net and those of other kinds. In verse 21 he mentions that James and John were in their boat, mending their nets ([Greek: diktya]).

The same things are to be observed in Mark i. 16, which is the parallel passage.

IV.

[Greek: GRIPHOS], or [Greek: GRIPOS].

Pursuing the order adopted by Oppian in his list of fishing nets above quoted, we come to the [Greek: Griphos]. What kind of net this was we have been unable to discover. It must, however, have been one of the most useful and important kinds, because Plutarch mentions [Greek: griphoi kai sagênai] as the common implements of the fisherman, and Artemidorus speaks of this together with the casting-net and the sean in similar terms.

It may be observed, that [Greek: Gripeus] is used for a fisherman , apparently equivalent to [Greek: halieus]. We also find the expression [Greek: Gripêidi technê], meaning, "By the fisherman's art ".

V.

[Greek: GAGGAMON.]

The third fishing-net in Oppian's enumeration is [Greek: Gaggamon]. We find it once mentioned metaphorically, viz. by Æschylus, who calls an inextricable calamity, [Greek: Gaggamon atês. In Schneider's edition of Oppian we find this note, "Rete ostreis capiendis esse annotavit Hesychius." Passow also in his Lexicon explains it as "a small round net for catching oysters." The reference to Hesychius is incorrect. If it was a net for catching oysters, which appears very doubtful, it may have been the net used by the Indians in the pearl-fishery ., vol. v. p. 838, ed Steph.]Arrian, Indica, vol. i p. 525, ed. Blancardi.]