The pirates had increased in numbers during the wars between Marius and Sylla in a very alarming degree.

They had built, equipped, and organized whole fleets.

They had various fortresses, arsenals, ports, and watch-towers all along the coasts of the Mediterranean.

They had also extensive warehouses, built in secure and secluded places, where they stored their plunder.

Their fleets were well manned, and provided with skillful pilots, and with ample supplies of every kind; and they were so well constructed, both for speed and safety, that no other ships could be made to surpass them.