the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第13节
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Piscator。 Marry； and I am glad of it： I am like to have a towardly
scholar of you。 I now see； that with advice and practice； you will make an
Angler in a short time。 Have but a love to it； and I'll warrant you。
Venator。 But； master！ what if I could not have found a grasshopper？
Piscator。 Then I may tell you； That a black snail； with his belly slit； to
show his white； or a piece of soft cheese； will usually do as well。 Nay；
sometimes a worm； or any kind of fly； as the ant…fly； the flesh…fly； or wall…
fly； or the dor or beetle which you may find under cow…dung； or a bob
which you will find in the same place； and in time will be a beetle； it is a
short white worm； like to and bigger than a gentle； or a cod… worm； or a
case…worm； any of these will do very well to fish in such a manner。
And after this manner you may catch a Trout in a hot evening： when；
as you walk by a brook； and shall see or hear him leap at flies； then； if you
get a grasshopper； put it on your hook； with your line about two yards long；
standing behind a bush or tree where his hole is： and make your bait stir
up and down on the top of the water。 You may； if you stand close； be sure
of a bite； but not sure to catch him； for he is not a leather… mouthed fish。
And after this manner you may fish for him with almost any kind of live
fly； but especially with a grasshopper。
Venator。 But before you go further； I pray； good master； what mean
you by a leather…mouthed fish ？
Piscator。 By a leather…mouthed fish； I mean such as have their teeth in
their throat； as the Chub or Cheven： and so the Barbel； the Gudgeon； and
Carp； and divers others have。 And the hook being stuck into the leather； or
skin； of the mouth of such fish； does very seldom or never lose its hold：
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but on the contrary； a Pike； a Perch； or Trout； and so some other fish；
which have not their teeth in their throats； but in their mouths； which you
shall observe to be very full of bones； and the skin very thin； and little of it。
I say； of these fish the hook never takes so sure hold but you often lose
your fish； unless he have gorged it。
Venator。 I thank you； good master； for this observation。 But now what
shall be done with my Chub or Cheven that I have caught ？
Piscator。 Marry； Sir； it shall be given away to some poor body； for I'll
warrant you I'll give you a Trout for your supper： and it is a good
beginning of your art to offer your first…fruits to the poor； who will both
thank you and God for it； which I see by your silence you seem to consent
to。 And for your willingness to part with it so charitably； I will also teach
more concerning Chub…fishing。 You are to note； that in March and April he
is usually taken with worms； in May； June； and July； he will bite at any fly；
or at cherries； or at beetles with their legs and wings cut off； or at any kind
of snail； or at the black bee that breeds in clay walls。 And he never refuses
a grasshopper； on the top of a swift stream； nor； at the bottom； the young
humble bee that breeds in long grass； and is ordinarily found by the mower
of it。 In August； and in the cooler months； a yellow paste； made of the
strongest cheese； and pounded in a mortar； with a little butter and saffron；
so much of it as； being beaten small； will turn it to a lemon colour。 And
some make a paste for the winter months； at which time the Chub is
accounted best； for then it is observed； that the forked bones are lost； or
turned into a kind of gristle； especially if he be baked； of cheese and
turpentine。 He will bite also at a minnow； or peek； as a Trout will： of
which I shall tell you more hereafter； and of divers other baits。 But take
this for a rule； that； in hot weather； he is to be fished for towards the mid…
water； or near the top； and in colder weather； nearer the bottom； and if you
fish for him on the top； with a beetle； or any fly； then be sure to let your
line be very long； and to keep out of sight。 And having told you； that his
spawn is excellent meat； and that the head of a large Cheven； the throat
being well washed； is the best part of him； I will say no more of this fish at
the present； but wish you may catch the next you fish for。
But； lest you may judge me too nice in urging to have the Chub
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dressed so presently after he is taken； I will commend to your
consideration how curious former times have been in the like kind。
You shall read in Seneca； his Natural Questions； that the ancients were
so curious in the newness of their fish； that that semed not new enough
that was not put alive into the guest's hand； and he says； that to that end
they did usually keep them living in glass bottles in their dining…rooms；
and they did glory much in their entertaining of friends； to have that fish
taken from under their table alive that was instantly to be fed upon； and he
says； they took great pleasure to see their Mullets change to several
colours when they were dying。 But enough of this； for I doubt I have staid
too long from giving you some Observations of the Trout； and how to fish
for him； which shall take up the next of my spare time。
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The third day … continued
On the Nature and Breeding of the Trout； and how to fish for him
Chapter IV
Piscator； Venator； Milk…woman； Maudlin； Hostess
Piscator。 The Trout is a fish highly valued； both in this and foreign
nations。 He may be justly said； as the old poet said of wine； and we
English say of venison； to be a generous fish： a fish that is so like the buck；
that he also has his seasons； for it is observed； that he comes in and goes
out of season with the stag and buck。 Gesner says； his name is of a
German offspring； and says he is a fish that feeds clean and purely； in the
swiftest streams； and on the hardest gravel； and that he may justly contend
with all fresh water fish； as the Mullet may with all sea fish； for
precedency and daintiness of taste； and that being in right season； the most
dainty palates have allowed precedency to him。
And before I go farther in my discourse； let me tell you； that you are to
observe； that as there be some barren does that are good in summer； so
there be some barren Trouts that are good in winter； but there are not many
that are so； for usually they be in their perfection in the month of May； and
decline with the buck。 Now you are to take notice； that in several countries；
as in Germany； and in other parts； compared to ours； fish do differ much in
their bigness； and shape； and other ways； and so do Trouts。 It is well
known that in the Lake Leman； the Lake of Geneva； there are Trouts taken
of three cubits long； as is affirmed by Gesner； a writer of good credit： and
Mercator says； the Trouts that are taken in the Lake of Geneva are a great
part of the merchandize of that famous city。 And you are further to know；
that there be certain waters that breed Trouts remarkable； both for their
number and smallness。 I know a little brook in Kent； that breeds them to a
number incredible； and you may take them twenty or forty in an hour； but
none greater than about the size of a Gudgeon。 There are also； in divers
rivers； especially that relate to； or be near to the sea； as Winchester； or the
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Thames about Windsor； a little Trout called a Samlet； or Skegger Trout； in
both which places I have caught twenty or forty at a standing； that will bite
as fast and as freely as Minnows： these be by some taken to be young
Salmons； but in those waters they never grow to be bigger than a Herring。
There is also in Kent； near to Canterbury； a Trout called there a
Fordidge Trout； a Trout that bears the name of the town where it is usually
caught； that is accounted the rarest of fish； many of them near the bi
