the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第33章
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breast of some chemical man； that； like the Rosicrucians； will not yet
reveal it。 But let me nevertheless tell you； that camphire； put with moss
into your worm…bag with your worms； makes them； if many anglers be not
very much mistaken； a tempting bait； and the angler more fortunate。 But I
stepped by chance into this discourse of oils； and fishes smelling； and
though there might be more said； both of it and of baits for Roach and
Dace and other float…fish； vet I will for bear it at this time； and tell you； in
the next place； how you are to prepare your tackling： concerning which； I
will； for sport sake； give you an old rhyme out of an old fish book； which
will prove a part； and but a part； of what you are to provide。
My rod and my line； my float and my lead； My hook and my plummet；
my whetstone and knife； My basket； my baits； both living and dead； My
net； and my meat； for that is the chief： Then I must have thread； and hairs
green and small； With mine angling purse： and so you have all。
But you must have all these tackling； and twice so many more； with
which； if you mean to be a fisher； you must store yourself； and to that
purpose I will go with you； either to Mr。 Margrave； who dwells amongst
the book…sellers in St。 Paul's Church…yard； or to Mr。 John Stubs； near to the
Swan in Goldinglane： they be both honest； an； and will fit an angler with
what tackling he lacks。
Venator。 Then； good master； let it be at for he is nearest to my
dwelling。 And I pray let's meet there the ninth of May next； about two of
the clock； and I'll want nothing that a fisher should be furnished with。
Piscator。 Well； and I'll not fail you； God willing； at the time and place
appointed。
Venator。 I thank you； good master； and I will not fail you。 And； good
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master； tell me what BAITS more you remember； for it will not now be
long ere we shall be at Tottenham…High…Cross； and when we come thither
I will make you some requital of your pains； by repeating as choice a copy
of Verses as any we have heard since we met together； and that is a proud
word； for we have heard very good ones。
Piscator Well； scholar； and I shall be then right glad to hear them。 And
I will； as we walk； tell you whatsoever comes in my mind； that I think may
be worth your hearing。 You may make another choice bait thus： take a
handful or two of the best and biggest wheat you can get； boil it in a little
milk； like as frumity is boiled； boil it so till it be soft； and then fry it； very
leisurely； with honey； and a little beaten saffron dissolved in milk； and you
will find this a choice bait； and good； I think； for any fish； especially for
Roach； Dace； Chub； or Grayling： I know not but that it may be as good for
a river Carp； and especially if the ground be a little baited with it。
And you may also note； that the SPAWN of most fish is a very
tempting bait； being a little hardened on a warm tile and cut into fit pieces。
Nay； mulberries； and those black…berries which grow upon briars； be good
baits for Chubs or Carps： with these many have been taken in ponds； and
in some rivers where such trees have grown near the water； and the fruit
customarily drops into it。 And there be a hundred other baits； more than
can be well named； which； by constant baiting the water； will become a
tempting bait for any fish in it。
You are also to know； that there be divers kinds of CADIS； or Case…
worms； that are to be found in this nation； in several distinct counties； in
several little brooks that relate to bigger rivers； as namely； one cadis called
a piper； whose husk； or case； is a piece of reed about an inch long； or
longer； and as big about as the compass of a two…pence。 These worms
being kept three or four days in a woollen bag； with sand at the bottom of
it； and the bag wet once a day； will in three or four days turn to be yellow；
and these be a choice bait for the Chub or Chavender； or indeed for any
great fish； for it is a large bait。
There is also a lesser cadis…worm； called a Cockspur； being in fashion
like the spur of a cock； sharp at one end： and the case； or house。 in which
this dwells； is made of small husks； and gravel； and slime； most curiously
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made of these； even so as to be wondered at； but not to be made by man；
no more than a king…fisher's nest can； which is made of little fishes' bones；
and have such a geometrical interweaving and connection as the like is not
to be done by the art of man。 This kind of cadis is a choice bait for any
float…fish； it is much less than the piper… cadis； and to be so ordered： and
these may be so preserved； ten； fifteen； or twenty days； or it may be
longer。
There is also another cadis； called by some a Straw…worm； and by
some a Ruff…coat； whose house； or case； is made of little pieces of bents；
and rushes； and straws； and water…weeds； and I know not what； which are
so knit together with condensed slime； that they stick about her husk or
case； not unlike the bristles of a hedge…hog。 These three cadises are
commonly taken in the beginning of summer； and are good； indeed； to
take any kind of fish； with float or otherwise。 I might tell you of many
more； which as they do early； so those have their time also of turning to be
flies in later summer； but I might lose myself； and tire you； by such a
discourse： I shall therefore but remember you； that to know these； and
their several kinds； and to what flies every particular cadis turns； and then
how to use them； first as they be cadis； and after as they be flies； is an art；
and an art that every one that professes to be an angler has not leisure to
search after； and； if he had； is not capable of learning。
I'll tell you； scholar； several countries have several kinds of cadises；
that indeed differ as much as dogs do； that is to say； as much as a very cur
and a greyhound do。 These be usually bred in the very little rills； or ditches；
that run into bigger rivers； and I think a more proper bait for those very
rivers than any other。 I know not how； or of what； this cadis receives life；
or what coloured fly it turns to； but doubtless they are the death of many
Trouts： and this is one killing way：
Take one； or more if need be； of these large yellow cadis： pull off his
head； and with it pull out his black gut； put the body； as little bruised as is
possible； on a very little hook； armed on with a red hair； which will shew
like the cadis…head； and a very little thin lead； so put upon the shank of the
hook that it may sink presently。 Throw this bait； thus ordered； which will
look very yellow； into any great still hole where a Trout is； and he will
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presently venture his life for it； it is not to be doubted； if you be not espied；
and that the bait first touch the water before the line。 And this will do best
in the deepest stillest water。
Next； let me tell you； I have been much pleased to walk quietly by a
brook； with a little stick in my hand； with which I might easily take these；
and consider the curiosity of their composure： and if you should ever like
to do so； then note； that your stick must be a little hazel； or willow； cleft；
or have a nick at one end of it； by which means you may； with ease； take
many of them in that nick out of the water； before you have any occasion
to use them。 These； my honest scholar； are some observations； told to you
as they now come suddenly into my memory； of which you may make
some use： but for the practical part； it is that that makes an angler： it is
diligence； and observation； and practice； and an ambition to be the best in
the art； that must do it。 I will tell you； scholar； I once heard one say； 〃 I
envy not him that eats better meat than I do； nor him that is richer； or that
wears better clothes than I do： I envy nobody but him； and him only； that
catches more fish than I do 〃。 And such a man is like to prove an angler；
and this noble emulation I wish to you； and all young anglers。
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The FIFTH day…continued
Of the Minnow； or Penk； Loach； Bull…Head； or Miller's… Thumb：
and the Stickle…bag
Chapter XVIII
Piscator and Venator
Piscator。 There be also three or four other little fish that I had almost
forgot； that are all without scales； and may for excellency of meat； be
compared to any fish of greatest value and largest size。 They be usually
full of eggs or spawn； all the months of summer； for they breed often； as
'tis observed mice and many of the smaller four…footed creatures of the
earth do and as those； so these come quickly to their full growth and
perfection。 And it is needful that they breed both often and numerously；
for they be； besides other accidents of ruin； both a prey and baits for other
fish。 And first I shall tell you of the Minnow or Penk。
The MINNOW hath； when he is in perfect season； and not sick； which
is only presently after spawning； a kind of dappled or waved colour； like to
a panther； on its sides； inclining to a greenish or sky…colour； his belly
being milk white； and his back almost black or blackish。 He is a sharp
biter at a small worm； and in hot weather makes excellent sport for young
anglers； or boys； or women that love that recreation。 And in the spring they
make of them excellent Minnow…tansies； for being washed well in salt；
and their heads and tails cut off； and their guts taken out； and not washed
after； they prove excellent for that use； that is； being fried with yolk of
eggs； the flowers of cowslips and of primroses； and a little tansy； t
