The Anglers of Arz

"The Anglers of Arz" by Roger D. Aycock is a science fiction short story that was first published in the early 1950s, specifically in the January 1953 issue of "IF Worlds of Science Fiction". The narrative unfolds on an alien planet called Arz, where the main theme revolves around the peculiar fishing practices of its pinkish, bipedal inhabitants and how it intertwines with the local marine life, including formidable creatures like squids and winged lizards. The story follows the crew of the "Marco Four", particularly navigator Arthur Farrell, as they explore the mysteries of Arz and its native species. As Farrell and his colleagues investigate the strange fishing rituals of the Arzians, they are puzzled by the apparent suicide-like behavior of the native fishers who venture out to a coral islet only to be preyed upon by monstrous lizards. Their inquiry leads to shocking discoveries about a submerged city once inhabited by a more advanced race, now reduced to the predatory dynamics of squids that govern the underwater world. In the end, they realize that the Arzians are essentially livestock, caught in a twisted game where they serve as bait for the aquatic hunters, forcing the Earthmen to confront the moral implications of their mission and their place in this alien ecosystem.