the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第27节
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that a Pike will devour a fish of his own kind that shall be bigger than his
belly or throat will receive； and swallow a part of him； and let the other
part remain in his mouth till the swallowed part be digested； and then
swallow that other part that was in his mouth； and so put it over by degrees；
which is not unlike the Ox； and some other beasts taking their meat； not
out of their mouth immediately into their belly； but first into some place
betwixt； and then chew it； or digest it by degrees after； which is called
chewing the cud。 And； doubtless； Pikes will bite when they are not hungry；
but； as some think； even for very anger； when a tempting bait comes near
to them。
And it is observed； that the Pike will eat venomous things； as some
kind of frogs are； and yet live without being harmed by them； for； as some
say； he has in him a natural balsam； or antidote against all poison。 And he
has a strange heat； that though it appear to us to be cold； can yet digest or
put over any fish…flesh； by degrees； without being sick。 And others observe；
that he never eats the venomous frog till he have first killed her； and then
as ducks are observed to do to frogs in spawning… time； at which time
some frogs are observed to be venomous； so thoroughly washed her； by
tumbling her up and down in the water； that he may devour her without
danger。 And Gesner affirms； that a Polonian gentleman did faithfully
assure him； he had seen two young geese at one time in the belly of a Pike。
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And doubtless a Pike in his height of hunger will bite at and devour a dog
that swims in a pond； and there have been examples of it； or the like； for
as I told you； 〃 The belly has no ears when hunger comes upon it 〃
The Pike is also observed to be a solitary； melancholy； and a bold fish；
melancholy； because he always swims or rests himself alone； and never
swims in shoals or with company； as Roach and Dace； and most other fish
do： and bold； because he fears not a shadow； or to see or be seen of
anybody； as the Trout and Chub； and all other fish do。
And it is observed by Gesner； that the jaw…bones； and hearts； and galls
of Pikes； are very medicinable for several diseases； or to stop blood； to
abate fevers； to cure agues； to oppose or expel the infection of the plague；
and to be many ways medicinable and useful for the good of mankind： but
he observes； that the biting of a Pike is venomous； and hard to be cured。
And it is observed； that the Pike is a fish that breeds but once a year；
and that other fish； as namely Loaches； do breed oftener： as we are certain
tame Pigeons do almost every month； and yet the Hawk； a bird of prey； as
the Pike is a fish； breeds but once in twelve months。 And you are to note；
that his time of breeding； or spawning； is usually about the end of
February； or； somewhat later； in March； as the weather proves colder or
warmer： and to note； that his manner of breeding is thus： a he and a she
Pike will usually go together out of a river into some ditch or creek； and
that there the spawner casts her eggs； and the melter hovers over her all
that time that she is casting her spawn； but touches her not。
I might say more of this； but it might be thought curiosity or worse；
and shall therefore forbear it； and take up so much of your attention as to
tell you that the best of Pikes are noted to be in rivers； next； those in great
ponds or meres； and the worst； in small ponds。
But before I proceed further； I am to tell you； that there is a great
antipathy betwixt the Pike and some frogs： and this may appear to the
reader of Dubravius； a bishop in Bohemia； who； in his book Of Fish and
Fish…ponds； relates what he says he saw with his own eyes； and could not
forbear to tell the reader。 Which was：
〃As he and the bishop Thurzo were walking by a large pond in
Bohemia； they saw a frog； when the Pike lay very sleepily and quiet by the
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shore side； leap upon his head； and the frog having expressed malice or
anger by his sworn cheeks and staring eyes； did stretch out his legs and
embrace the Pike's head； and presently reached them to his eyes； tearing
with them； and his teeth； those tender parts： the Pike； moved with anguish；
moves up and down the water； and rubs himself against weeds； and
whatever he thought might quit him of his enemy； but all in vain； for the
frog did continue to ride triumphantly； and to bite and torment the Pike till
his strength failed； and then the frog sunk with the Pike to the bottom of
the water： then presently the frog appeared again at the top； and croaked；
and seemed to rejoice like a conqueror； after which he presently retired to
his secret hole。 The bishop； that had beheld the battle； called his fisherman
to fetch his nets； and by all means to get the Pike that they might declare
what had happened： and the Pike was drawn forth； and both his eyes eaten
out； at which when they began to wonder； the fisherman wished them to
forbear； and assured them he was certain that Pikes were often so served。〃
I told this； which is to be read in the sixth chapter of the book of
Dubravius； unto a friend； who replied； 〃 It was as improbable as to have
the mouse scratch out the cat's eyes〃。 But he did not consider； that there be
Fishing frogs； which the Dalmatians call the Water…devil； of which I might
tell you as wonderful a story： but I shall tell you that 'tis not to be doubted
but that there be some frogs so fearful of the water…snake； that when they
swim in a place in which they fear to meet with him they then get a reed
across into their mouths； which if they two meet by accident； secures the
frog from the strength and malice of the snake； and note； that the frog
usually swims the fastest of the two。
And let me tell you； that as there be water and land frogs； so there be
land and water snakes。 Concerning which take this observation； that the
land…snake breeds and hatches her eggs； which become young snakes； in
some old dunghill； or a like hot place： but the water…snake； which is not
venomous； and as I have been assured by a great observer of such secrets；
does not hatch； but breed her young alive； which she does not then forsake；
but bides with them； and in case of danger will take them all into her
mouth and swim away from any apprehended danger； and then let them
out again when she thinks all danger to be past： these be accidents that we
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Anglers sometimes see； and often talk of。
But whither am I going ？ I had almost lost myself； by remembering the
discourse of Dubravius。 I will therefore stop here； and tell you； according
to my promise； how to catch this Pike。
His feeding is usually of fish or frogs； and sometimes a weed of his
own； called pickerel…weed； of which I told you some think Pikes are bred；
for they have observed； that where none have been put into ponds； yet they
have there found many； and that there has been plenty of that weed in
those ponds； and that that weed both breeds and feeds them： but whether
those Pikes； so bred； will ever breed by generation as the others do； I shall
leave to the disquisitions of men of more curiosity and leisure than I
profess myself to have： and shall proceed to tell you； that you may fish for
a Pike； either with a ledger or a walking…bait； and you are to note； that I
call that a Ledger…bait； which is fixed or made to rest in one certain place
when you shall be absent from it； and I call that a Walking…bait； which you
take with you； and have ever in motion。 Concerning which two； I shall
give you this direction； that your ledger… bait is best to be a living bait
（though a dead one may catch）； whether it be a fish or a frog： and that you
may make them live the longer； you may； or indeed you must； take this
course：
First； for your LIVE…BAIT。 Of fish； a roach or dace is； I think； best and
most tempting； and a perch is the longest lived on a ho
