the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第26节
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worm； a minnow which some call a peek； or with a fly。
And you are to observe； that he is very seldom observed to bite at a
minnow； yet sometimes he will； and not usually at a fly； but more usually
at a worm； and then most usually at a lob or garden…worm； which should
be well scoured； that is to say； kept seven or eight days in moss before you
fish with them： and if you double your time of eight into sixteen； twenty；
or more days； it is still the better； for the worms will still be clearer；
tougher； and more lively； and continue so longer upon your hook。 And
they may be kept longer by keeping them cool； and in fresh moss； and
some advise to put camphire into it。
Note also； that many used to fish for a Salmon with a ring of wire on
the top of their rod； through which the line may run to as great a length as
is needful； when he is hooked。 And to that end； some use a wheel about the
middle of their rod； or near their hand； which is to be observed better by
seeing one of them than by a large demonstration of words。
And now I shall tell you that which may be called a secret。 I have been
a…fishing with old Oliver Henly； now with God； a noted fisher both for
Trout and Salmon； and have observed； that he would usually take three or
four worms out of his bag； and put them into a little box in his pocket；
where he would usually let them continue half an hour or more。 before he
would bait his hook with them。 I have asked him his reason； and he has
replied； 〃 He did but pick the best out to be in readiness against he baited
his hook the next time 〃： but he has been observed； both by others and
myself； to catch more fish than I； or any other body that has ever gone a…
fishing with him； could do； and especially Salmons。 And I have been told
lately； by one of his most intimate and secret friends； that the box in which
he put those worms was anointed with a drop； or two or three； of the oil of
ivy…berries； made by expression or infusion； and told； that by the worms
remaining in that box an hour； or a like time； they had incorporated a kind
of smell that was irresistibly attractive； enough to force any fish within the
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smell of them to bite。 This I heard not long since from a friend； but have
not tried it； yet I grant it probable； and refer my reader to Sir Francis
Bacon's Natural history； where he proves fishes may hear； and； doubtless；
can more probably smell： and I am certain Gesner says； the Otter can
smell in the water； and I know not but that fish may do so too。 'Tis left for
a lover of angling； or any that desires to improve that art； to try this
conclusion。
I shall also impart two other experiments； but not tried by myself；
which I will deliver in the same words that they were given me by an
excellent angler and a very friend； in writing： he told me the latter was too
good to be told； but in a learned language； lest it should be made common。
〃Take the stinking oil drawn out of polypody of the oak by a retort；
mixed with turpentine and hive…honey； and anoint your bait therewith； and
it will doubtless draw the fish to it。〃 The other is this： 〃 Vulnera hederae
grandissimae inflicta sudant balsamum oleo gelato； albicantique persimile；
odoris vero longe suavissimi〃。 〃'Tis supremely sweet to any fish； and yet
assa foetida may do the like。〃
But in these I have no great faith； yet grant it probable； and have had
from some chymical men； namely； from Sir George Hastings and others；
an affirmation of them to be very advantageous。 But no more of these；
especially not in this place。
I might here； before I take my leave of the Salmon； tell you； that there
is more than one sort of them； as namely； a Tecon； and another called in
some places a Samlet； or by some a Skegger； but these； and others which I
forbear to name； may be fish of another kind； and differ as we know a
Herring and a Pilchard do； which； I think； are as different as the rivers in
which they breed； and must； by me； be left to the disquisitions of men of
more leisure； and of greater abilities than I profess myself to have。
And lastly； I am to borrow so much of your promised patience； as to
tell you； that the trout； or Salmon； being in season； have； at their first
taking out of the water； which continues during life； their bodies adorned；
the one with such red spots； and the other with such black or blackish
spots； as give them such an addition of natural beauty as； I think； was
never given to any woman by the artificial paint or patches in which they
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so much pride themselves in this age。 And so I shall leave them both； and
proceed to some observations of the Pike。
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The fourth day … continued
On the Luce or Pike
Chapter VIII
Piscator and Venator
Piscator。 The mighty Luce or Pike is taken to be the tyrant； as the
Salmon is the king； of the fresh water。 'Tis not to be doubted； but that they
are bred； some by generation； and some not； as namely； of a weed called
pickerel…weed； unless learned Gesner be much mistaken； for he says； this
weed and other glutinous matter； with the help of the sun's heat； in some
particular months； and some ponds； apted for it by nature； do become
Pikes。 But； doubtless； divers Pikes are bred after this manner； or are
brought into some ponds some such Other ways as is past man's finding
out； of which we have daily testimonies。
Sir Francis Bacon； in his History of Life and Death； observes the Pike
to be the longest lived of any fresh…water fish； and yet he computes it to be
not usually above forty years； and others think it to be not above ten years：
and yet Gesner mentions a Pike taken in Swedeland； in the year 1449； with
a ring about his neck； declaring he was put into that pond by Frederick the
Second； more than two hundred years before he was last taken； as by the
inscription in that ring； being Greek； was interpreted by the then Bishop of
Worms。 But of this no more； but that it is observed； that the old or very
great Pikes have in them more of state than goodness； the smaller or
middle…sized Pikes being； by the most and choicest palates； observed to be
the best meat： and； contrary； the Eel is observed to be the better for age
and bigness。
All Pikes that live long prove chargeable to their keepers； because their
life is maintained by the death of so many other fish； even those of their
own kind； which has made him by some writers to be called the tyrant of
the rivers； or the fresh…water wolf； by reason of his bold； greedy；
devouring； disposition； which is so keen； as Gesner relates； A man going
to a pond； where it seems a Pike had devoured all the fish； to water his
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mule； had a Pike bit his mule by the lips； to which the Pike hung so fast；
that the mule drew him out of the water； and by that accident； the owner of
the mule angled out the Pike。 And the same Gesner observes； that a maid
in Poland had a Pike bit her by the foot； as she was washing clothes in a
pond。 And I have heard the like of a woman in Killingworth pond； not far
from Coventry。 But I have been assured by my friend Mr。 Segrave； of
whom I spake to you formerly； that keeps tame Otters； that he hath known
a Pike； in extreme hunger； fight with one of his Otters for a Carp that the
Otter had caught； and was then bringing out of the water。 I have told you
who relate these things； and tell you they are persons of credit； and shall
conclude this observation； by telling you； what a wise man has observed； 〃
It is a hard thing to persuade the belly； because it has no ears 〃。
But if these relations be disbelieved； it is too evident to be doubted；
that a Pike will devour a fish of his own kind that shall be bigger than his
bel
