Section 60 Occupation of the Anglo-Saxons
Fishing (S. 40, N. 9) was a principal occupation, owing1 to the frequent abstinences from flesh-meat, enjoined2 by (S. 59, N. 13) a superstitious ritual3. Eels were taken4 in immense numbers in the marsh lands of the Eastern counties; salmon in the river Dee; herrings along the shores of Suffolk, Kent, and Sussex, in5 their annual migration; while larger species, as6 the whale and grampus7, were captured in the open sea. Hunting and falconry were the field-sports8 of the great. The beasts of the forest or chase, which were protected by fines, and reserved9 for privileged persons, were the10 stag, roebuck, hare, and rabbit. The wolf, fox, and boar might11 be killed by12 any one with impunity, if (S. 27, N. 7) found without13 the limits of the chase or forest. The wild duck and heron were the14 common quarry.—Milner, History of England.
Notes
1 Say ‘in consequence of the frequent fasting’.
2 an´ordnen. See S. 7, N. 3, B.
3 Ritus, m.
4 ‘to take’, here = to catch; numbers = multitudes, Menge, f.; marsh lands, Marschgegenden.
5 in = upon.
6 as = like, wie.
7 der Schwertfisch (Delphinus orca).
8 Vergnügungen.
9 reservieren.
10 I propose to use the following seven nouns in the plural and without the article, in order to avoid the frequent repetition of the same.
11 Use the Imperf. of dürfen.
12 by — impunity, von jedermann ungestraft.
13 without = outside, außerhalb.
14 Say ‘the booty of all’.