the complete angler-第22章

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to　the　water…side；　and　give　as　much　line　as　possibly　you　can：　if　it　be　a　good　Carp　or　Bream；　they　will　go　to　the　farther　side　of　the　river：　then　strike　gently；　and　hold　your　rod　at　a　bent；　a　little　while；　but　if　you　both　pull　together；　you　are　sure　to　lose　your　game；　for　either　your　line；　or　hook；　or　hold；　will　break：　and　after　you　have　overcome　them；　they　will　make　noble　sport；　and　are　very　shy　to　be　landed。　The　Carp　is　far　stronger　and　more　mettlesome　than　the　Bream。

Much　more　is　to　be　observed　in　this　kind　of　fish　and　fishing；　but　it　is　far　fitter　for　experience　and　discourse　than　paper。　Only；　thus　much　is　necessary　for　you　to　know；　and　to　be　mindful　and　careful　of；　that　if　the　Pike　or　Perch　do　breed　in　that　river；　they　will　be　sure　to　bite　first；　and　must　first　be　taken。　And　for　the　most　part　they　are　very　large；　and　will　repair　to　your　ground…bait；　not　that　they　will　eat　of　it；　but　will　feed　and　sport　themselves　among　the　young　fry　that　gather　about　and　hover　over　the　bait。

The　way　to　discern　the　Pike　and　to　take　him；　it　you　mistrust　your　Bream　hook；　for　I　have　taken　a　Pike　a　yard　long　several　times　at　my　Bream　hooks；　and　sometimes　he　hath　had　the　luck　to　share　my　line；　may　be　thus：

Take　a　small　Bleak；　or　Roach；　or　Gudgeon；　and　bait　it；　and　set　it；　alive；　among　your　rods；　two　feet　deep　from　the　cork；　with　a　little　red　worm　on　the　point　of　the　hook：　then　take　a　few　crumbs　of　white　bread；　or　some　of　the　ground…bait；　and　sprinkle　it　gently　amongst　your　rods。　If　Mr。　Pike　be　there；　then　the　little　fish　will　skip　out　of　the　water　at　his　appearance；　but　the　live…set　bait　is　sure　to　be　taken。

Thus　continue　your　sport　from　four　in　the　morning　till　eight；　and　if　it　be　a　gloomy　windy　day；　they　will　bite　all　day　long：　but　this　is　too　long　to　stand　to　your　rods；　at　one　place；　and　it　will　spoil　your　evening　sport　that　day；　which　is　this。

About　four　of　the　clock　in　the　afternoon　repair　to　your　baited　place；　and　as　soon　as　you　come　to　the　water…side；　cast　in　one…half　of　the　rest　of　your　ground…bait；　and　stand　off；　then　whilst　the　fish　are　gathering　together；　for　there　they　will　most　certainly　come　for　their　supper；　you　may　take　a　pipe　of　tobacco：　and　then；　in　with　your　three　rods；　as　in　the　morning。　You　will　find　excellent　sport　that　evening；　till　eight　of　the　clock：　then　cast　in　the　residue　of　your　ground…bait；　and　next　morning；　by　four　of　the　clock；　visit　them　again　for　four　hours；　which　is　the　best　sport　of　all；　and　after　that；　let　them　rest　till　you　and　your　friends　have　a　mind　to　more　sport。

From　St。　James's…tide　until　Bartholomew…tide　is　the　best；　when　they　have　had　all　the　summer's　food；　they　are　the　fattest。

Observe；　lastly；　that　after　three　or　four　days'　fishing　together；　your　game　will　be　very　shy　and　wary；　and　you　shall　hardly　get　above　a　bite　or　two　at　a　baiting：　then　your　only　way　is　to　desist　from　your　sport；　about　two　or　three　days：　and　in　the　meantime；　on　the　place　you　late　baited；　and　again　intend　to　bait；　you　shall　take　a　turf　of　green　but　short　grass；　as　big　or　bigger　than　a　round　trencher；　to　the　top　of　this　turf；　on　the　green　side；　you　shall；　with　a　needle　and　green　thread；　fasten　one　by　one；　as　many　little　red　worms　as　will　near　cover　all　the　turf：　then　take　a　round　board　or　trencher；　make　a　hole　in　the　middle　thereof；　and　through　the　turf　placed　on　the　board　or　trencher；　with　a　string　or　cord　as　long　as　is　fitting；　tied　to　a　pole；　let　it　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　water；　for　the　fish　to　feed　upon　without　disturbance　about　two　or　three　days；　and　after　that　you　have　drawn　it　away；　you　may　fall　to；　and　enjoy　your　former　recreation。

B。　A。





The　fourth　day…continued

On　the　Tench

Chapter　XI

Piscator

The　Tench；　the　physician　of　fishes；　is　observed　to　love　ponds　better　than　rivers；　and　to　love　pits　better　than　either：　yet　Camden　observes；　there　is　a　river　in　Dorsetshire　that　abounds　with　Tenches；　but　doubtless　they　retire　to　the　most　deep　and　quiet　places　in　it。

This　fish　hath　very　large　fins；　very　small　and　smooth　scales；　a　red　circle　about　his　eyes；　which　are　big　and　of　a　gold　colour；　and　from　either　angle　of　his　mouth　there　hangs　down　a　little　barb。　In　every　Tench's　head　there　are　two　little　stones　which　foreign　physicians　make　great　use　of；　but　he　is　not　commended　for　wholesome　meat；　though　there　be　very　much　use　made　of　them　for　outward　applications。　Rondeletius　says；　that　at　his　being　at　Rome；　he　saw　a　great　cure　done　by　applying　a　Tench　to　the　feet　of　a　very　sick　man。　This；　he　says；　was　done　after　an　unusual　manner；　by　certain　Jews。　And　it　is　observed　that　many　of　those　people　have　many　secrets　yet　unknown　to　Christians；　secrets　that　have　never　yet　been　written；　hut　have　been　since　the　days　of　their　Solomon；　who　knew　the　nature　of　all　things；　even　from　the　cedar　to　the　shrub；　delivered　by　tradition；　from　the　father　to　the　son；　and　so　from　generation　to　generation；　without　writing；　or；　unless　it　were　casually；　without　the　least　communicating　them　to　any　other　nation　or　tribe；　for　to　do　that　they　account　a　profanation。　And；　yet；　it　is　thought　that　they；　or　some　spirit　worse　than　they；　first　told　us；　that　lice；　swallowed　alive；　were　a　certain　cure　for　the　yellow…jaundice。　This；　and　many　other　medicines；　were　discovered　by　them；　or　by　revelation；　for；　doubtless；　we　attained　them　not　by　study

Well；　this　fish；　besides　his　eating；　is　very　useful；　both　dead　and　alive；　for　the　good　of　mankind。　But　I　will　meddle　no　more　with　that；　my　honest；　humble　art　teaches　no　such　boldness：　there　are　too　many　foolish　meddlers　in　physick　and　divinity　that　think　themselves　fit　to　meddle　with　hidden　secrets；　and　so　bring　destruction　to　their　followers。　But　I'll　not　meddle　with　them；　any　farther　than　to　wish　them　wiser；　and　shall　tell　you　next；　for　I　hope　I　may　be　so　bold；　that　the　Tench　is　the　physician　of　fishes；　for　the　Pike　especially；　and　that　the　Pike；　being　either　sick　or　hurt；　is　cured　by　the　touch　of　the　Tench。　And　it　is　observed　that　the　tyrant　Pike　will　not　be　a　wolf　to　his　physician；　but　forbears　to　devour　him　though　he　be　never　so　hungry。

This　fish；　that　carries　a　natural　balsam　in　him　to　cure　both　himself　and　others；　loves　yet　to　feed　in　very　foul　water；　and　amongst　weeds。　And　yet；　I　am　sure；　he　eats　pleasantly；　and；　doubtless；　you　will　think　so　too；　if　you　taste　him。　And　I　shall　therefore　proceed　to　give　you　some　few；　and　but　a　few；　directions　how　to　catch　this　Tench；　of　which　I　have　given　you　these　observations。

He　will　bite　at　a　paste　made　of　brown　bread　and　honey；　or　at　a　Marsh…　worm；　or　a　lob…worm；　he　inclines　very　much　to　any　paste　with　which　tar　is　mixt；　and　he　will　bite　also　at　a　smaller　worm　with　his　head　nipped　off；　and　a　cod…worm　put　on　the　hook　before　that　worm。　And　I　doubt　not　but　that　he　will　also；　in　the　three　hot　months；　for　in　the　nine　colder　he　stirs　not　much；　bite　at　a　flag…worm　or　at　a　green　gentle；　but　can　positively　say　no　more　of　the　Tench；　he　being　a　fish　I　have　not　often　angled　for；　but　I　wish　my　honest　scholar　may；　and　be　ever　fortunate　when　he　fishes。





The　fourth　day…continued

On　the　Perch

Chapter　XII

Piscator　and　Venator

Piscator。　The　Perch　is　a　very　good　and　very　bold　biting　fish。　He　is　one　of　the　fishes　of　prey　that；　like　the　Pike　and　Trout；　carries　his　teeth　in　his　mouth；　which　is　very　large：　and　he　dare　venture　to　kill　and　devour　several　other　kinds　of　fish。　He　has　a　hooked　or　hog　back；　which　is　armed　with　sharp　and　stiff　bristles；　and　all　his　skin　armed；　or　covered　over　with　thick　dry　hard　scales；　and　hash；　which　few　other　fish　have；　two　fins　on　his　back。　He　is　so　bold　that　he　will　invade　one　of　his　own　kind；　which　the　Pike　will　not　do　so　willingly；　and　you　may；　therefore；　easily　believe　him　to　be　a　bold　biter。

The　Perch　is　of　great　esteem　in　Italy；　saith　Aldrovandus：　and　especially　the　least　are　there　esteemed　a　dainty　dish。　And　Gesner　prefers　the　Perch　and　Pike　above　the　Trout；　or　any　fresh…water　fish：　he　says　the　Germans　have　this　proverb；　〃　More　wholesome　than　a　Perch　of　Rhine　〃：　and　he　says　the　River…Perch　is　so　wholesome；　that　physicians　allow　him　to　be　eaten　by　wounded　men；　or　by　men　in　fevers；　or　by　women　in　child…bed。

He　spawns　but　once　a　year；　and　is；　by　physicians；　held　very　nutritive；　yet；　by　many；　to　be　hard　of　digestion。　They　abound　more　in　the　river　Po；　and　in　England；　says　Rondeletius；　than　other　parts：　and　have　in　their　brain　a　stone；　which　is；　in　foreign　parts；　sold　by　apothecaries；　being　there　noted　to　be　very　medicinable　against　the　stone　in　the　reins。　These　be　a　part　of　the　commendations　which　some　philosophical　brains　have　bestowed　upon　the　freshwater　Perch：　yet　they　commend　the　Sea…Perch　which　is　known　by　having　but　one　fin　on　his　back；　of　which　they　say　we　English　see　but　a　few；　to　be　a　much　better　fish。

The　Perch　grows　slowly；　yet　will　grow；　as　I　have　been　credibly　informed；　to　be　almost　two　feet　long；　for　an　honest　informer　told　me；　such　a　one　was　not　long　since　taken　by　Sir　Abraham　Williams；　a　gentleman　of　worth；　and　a　brother　of　the　angle；　that　yet　lives；　and　I　wish　he　may：　this　was　a　deep…bodied　fish；　and　doubtless　durst　have　devoured　a　Pike　of　half　his　own　length。　For　I　have　told　you；　he　is　a　bold　fish；　such　a　one　as　but　for　extreme　hunger　the　Pike　will　not　devour。　For　to　affright　the　Pike；　and　save　himself；　the　Perch　will　set　up　his　fins；　much　like　as　a　turkey…cock　will　sometimes　set　up　his　tail。

But；　my　scholar；　the　Perch　is　not　only　valiant　to　defend　himself；　but　he　is；　as　I　said；　a　bold…biting　fish：　yet　he　will　not　bite　at　all　seasons　of　the　year；　he　is　very　abstemious　in　winter；　yet　will　bite　then　in　the　midst　of　the　day；　if　it　be　warm：　and　note；　that　all　fish　bite　best　about　the　midst　of　warm　day　in　winter。　And　he　hath　been　observed；　by　some；　not　usually　to　bite　till　the　mulberry…tree　buds；　that　is　to　say；　till　extreme　frosts　be　past　the　spring；　for；　when　the　mulberry…tree　blossoms；　many　gardeners　observe　their　forward　fruit　to　be　past　the　danger　of　frosts；　and　some　have　made　the　like　observation　of　the　Perch's　biting。

But　bite　the　Perch　will；　and　that　very　boldly。　And；　as　one　has　wittily　observed；　if　there　be　twenty　or　forty　in　a　hole；　they　may　be；　at　one　standing；　all　catched　one　after　another；　they　being；　as　he　says；　like　the　wicked　of　the　world；　not　afraid；　though　their　fellows　and　companions　perish　in　their　sight。　And　you　may　observe；　that　they　are　not　like　the　solitary　Pike；　but　love　to　accompany　one　another；　and　march　together　in　troops。

And　the　baits　for　this　bold　fish　are　not　many：　I　mean；　he　will　bite　as　well　at　some；　or　at　any　of　these　three；　as　at　any　or　all　others　whatsoever：　a　worm；　a　minnow；　or　a　little　frog；　of　which　you　may　find　many　in　hay…　time。　And　of　worms；　the　dunghill　worm　called　a　brandling　I　take　to　be　best；　being　well　scoured　in　moss　or　fennel；　or　he　will　bite　at　a　worm　that　lies　under　cow…dung；　with　a　bluish　head。　And　if　you　rove　for　a　Perch　with　a　minnow；　then　it　is　best　to　be　alive；　you　sticking　your　hook　through　his　back　fin；　or　a　minnow　with　the　hook　in　his　upper　lip；　and　letting　him　swim　up　and　down；　about　mid…water；　or　a　little　lower；　and　you　still　keeping　him　to　about　that　depth　by　a　cork；　which　ought　not　to　be　a　very　little　one：　and　the　like　way　you　are　to　fish　for　the　Perch　with　a　small　frog；　your　hook　being　fastened　through　the　skin　of　his　leg；　towar