This is Public Occurrences

"What is a Fast-Fish? Alive or dead a fish is technically fast,

when it is connected with an occupied ship or boat, by any

medium at all controllable by the occupant or occupants."
...

"What to that redoubted harpooneer, John Bull, is poor

Ireland, but a Fast-Fish?"
...

"What was America in 1492 but a Loose-Fish..."
...
"What are the Rights of Man andthe Liberties of the World but

Loose-Fish?"
...

"And what are you, reader, but a Loose-Fish and a Fast-Fish,

too?


-Herman Melville, Moby Dick.