the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第20章
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the emperors had particular fish…ponds； and； in them； several fish that
appeared and came when they were called by their particular names。 And
St。 James tells us； that all things in the sea have been tamed by mankind。
And Pliny tells us； that Antonia； the wife of Drusus； had a Lamprey at
whose gills she hung jewels or ear…rings； and that others have been so
tender…hearted as to shed tears at the death of fishes which they have kept
and loved。 And these observations； which will to most hearers seem
wonderful； seem to have a further confirmation from Martial； who writes
thus：…
Piscator； fuge； ne nocens； etc。
Angler ！ would'st thou be guiltless ？ then forbear； For these are sacred
fishes that swim here； Who know their sovereign； and will lick his hand；
Than which none's greater in the world's command； Nay more they've
names； and； when they called are； Do to their several owner's call repair。
All the further use that I shall make of this shall be； to advise anglers
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to be patient； and forbear swearing； lest they be heard； and catch no fish。
And so I shall proceed next to tell you； it is certain that certain fields
near Leominster； a town in Herefordshire； are observed to make the sheep
that graze upon them more fat than the next； and also to bear finer wool；
that is to say； that that year in which they feed in such a particular pasture；
they shall yield finer wool than they did that year before they came to feed
in it； and coarser； again； if they shall return to their former pasture； and；
again； return to a finer wool； being fed in the fine wool ground： which I
tell you； that you may the better believe that I am certain； if I catch a Trout
in one meadow； he shall be white and faint； and very like to be lousy； and；
as certainly； it I catch a Trout in the next meadow； he shall be strong； and
red； and lusty； and much better meat Trust me； scholar； I have caught many
a Trout in a particular meadow； that the very shape and the enamelled
colour of him hath been such as hath joyed me to look on him： and I have
then； with much pleasure； concluded with Solomon； 〃Everything is
beautiful in his season〃。
I should； by promise； speak next of the Salmon； but I will； by your
favour； say a little of the Umber or Grayling； which is so like a Trout for
his shape and feeding； that I desire I may exercise your patience with a
short discourse of him； and then； the next shall be of the Salmon。
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The fourth day … continued
The Umber or Grayling
Chapter VI
Piscator
The Umber and Grayling are thought by some to differ as the Herring
and Pilchard do。 But though they may do so in other nations； I think those
in England differ nothing but in their names。 Aldrovandus says； they be of
a Trout kind； and Gesner says； that in his country； which is Switzerland； he
is accounted the choicest of all fish。 And in Italy； he is； in the month of
May； so highly valued； that he is sold there at a much higher rate than any
other fish。 The French； which call the Chub Un Villain； call the Umber of
the lake Leman Un Umble Chevalier； and they value the Umber or
Grayling so highly； that they say he feeds on gold； and say； that many have
been caught out of their famous river of Loire； out of whose bellies grains
of gold have been often taken。 And some think that he feeds on water
thyme； and smells of it at his first taking out of the water； and they may
think so with as good reason as we do that our Smelts smell like violets at
their being first caught； which I think is a truth。 Aldrovandus says； the
Salmon； the Grayling； and Trout； and all fish that live in clear and sharp
streams； are made by their mother Nature of such exact shape and pleasant
colours purposely to invite us to a joy and contentedness in feasting with
her。 Whether this is a truth or not； is not my purpose to dispute： but 'tis
certain； all that write of the Umber declare him to be very medicinable。
And Gesner says； that the fat of an Umber or Grayling； being set； with a
little honey； a day or two in the sun； in a little glass； is very excellent
against redness or swarthiness； or anything that breeds in the eyes。 Salvian
takes him to be called Umber from his swift swimming； or gliding out of
sight more like a shadow or a ghost than a fish。 Much more might be said
both of his smell and taste： but I shall only tell you that St。 Ambrose； the
glorious bishop of Milan； who lived when the church kept fasting…days；
calls him the flower…fish； or flower of fishes； and that he was so far in love
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with him； that he would not let him pass without the honour of a long
discourse； but I must； and pass on to tell you how to take this dainty fish。
First note； that he grows not to the bigness of a Trout； for the biggest
of them do not usually exceed eighteen inches。 He lives in such rivers as
the Trout does； and is usually taken with the same baits as the Trout is； and
after the same manner； for he will bite both at the minnow； or worm； or fly；
though he bites not often at the minnow； and is very gamesome at the fly；
and much simpler； and therefore bolder than a Trout； for he will rise
twenty times at a fly； if you miss him； and yet rise again。 He has been
taken with a fly made of the red feathers of a paroquet； a strange
outlandish bird； and he will rise at a fly not unlike a gnat； or a small moth；
or； indeed； at most flies that are not too big。 He is a fish that lurks close all
Winter； but is very pleasant and jolly after mid…April； and in May； and in
the hot months。 He is of a very fine shape； his flesh is white； his teeth；
those little ones that he has； are in his throat； yet he has so tender a mouth；
that he is oftener lost after an angler has hooked him than any other fish。
Though there be many of these fishes in the delicate river Dove； and in
Trent； and some other smaller rivers； as that which runs by Salisbury； yet
he is not so general a fish as the Trout； nor to me so good to eat or to angle
for。 And so I shall take my leave of him： and now come to some
observations of the Salmon； and how to catch him。
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The fourth day … continued
The Salmon
Chapter VII
Piscator
The Salmon is accounted the King of freshwater fish； and is ever bred
in rivers relating to the sea； yet so high。 or far from it； as admits of no
tincture of salt； or brackishness。 He is said to breed or cast his spawn； in
most rivers； in the month of August： some say； that then they dig a hole or
grave in a safe place in the gravel； and there place their eggs or spawn；
after the melter has done his natural office； and then hide it most
cunningly； and cover it over with gravel and stones； and then leave it to
their Creator's protection； who； by a gentle heat which he infuses into that
cold element； makes it brood； and beget life in the spawn； and to become
Samlets early in the spring next following。
The Salmons having spent their appointed time； and done this natural
duty in the fresh waters； they then haste to the sea before winter； both the
melter and spawner； but if they be stops by flood…gates or weirs； or lost in
the fresh waters； then those so left behind by degrees grow sick and lean；
and unseasonable； and kipper； that is to say； have bony gristles grow out of
their lower chaps； not unlike a hawk's beak； which hinders their feeding；
and； in time； such fish so left behind pine away and die。 'Tis observed； that
he may live thus one year from the sea； but he then grows insipid and
tasteless； and loses both his blood and strength； and pines and dies the
second year。 And 'tis noted； that those little Salmons called Skeggers；
which abound in many rivers relating to the sea； are bred by such sick
Salmons that might not go to the sea； and that though they abound； yet
they never thrive to any considerable bigness。
But if the old Salmon gets to the sea； then that gristle which shews him
to be kipper； wears away； or is cast off； as the eagle is said to cast his bill；
and he recovers his strength； and comes next summer to the same river； if
it be possible； to enjoy the former pleasures that there possess him； for； as
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one has wittily observed； he has； like some persons of honour and riches
which have both their winter and summer houses； the fresh rivers for
summer； and the salt water for winter； to spend his life in； which is not； as
Sir Francis Bacon hath observed in his History of Life and Death； above
ten years。 And it is to be observed； that though the Salmon does grow big
in the sea； yet he grows not fat but in fresh rivers； and it is observed； that
the farther they get from the sea； they be both the fatter and better。
Next； I shall tell you； that though they make very hard shift to get out
of the fresh rivers into the sea yet they will make harder shift to get out of
the salt into the fresh rivers； to spawn； or possess the pleasures that they
have formerly found in them： to which end； they will force themselves
through floodgates； or over weirs； or hedges； or stops in the water； even to
a height beyond common belief。 Gesner speaks of such places as are
known to be above eight feet high above water。 And o
