the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第30节
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had seen a necklace； or collar of tadpoles； hang like a chain or necklace of
beads about a Pike's neck； and to kill him： Whether it were for meat or
malice； must be； to me； a question。
But I am fallen into this discourse by accident； of which I might say
more； but it has proved longer than I intended； and possibly may not to
you be considerable： I shall therefore give you three or four more short
observations of the Carp； and then fall upon some directions how you shall
fish for him。
The age of Carps is by Sir Francis Bacon； in his History of Life and
Death； observed to be but ten years； yet others think they live longer。
Gesner says； a Carp has been known to live in the Palatine above a
hundred years But most conclude； that； contrary to the Pike or Luce； all
Carps are the better for age and bigness。 The tongues of Carps are noted to
be choice and costly meat； especially to them that buy them： but Gesner
says； Carps have no tongue like other fish； but a piece of fleshlike fish in
their mouth like to a tongue； and should be called a palate： but it is certain
it is choicely good； and that the Carp is to be reckoned amongst those
leather…mouthed fish which； I told you； have their teeth in their throat； and
for that reason he is very seldom lost by breaking his hold； if your hook be
once stuck into his chaps。
I told you that Sir Francis Bacon thinks that the Carp lives but ten
years： but Janus Dubravius has writ a book Of fish and fish…ponds in
which he says； that Carps begin to spawn at the age of three years； and
continue to do so till thirty： he says also； that in the time of their breeding；
which is in summer； when the sun hath warmed both the earth and water；
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and so apted them also for generation； that then three or four male Carps
will follow a female； and that then； she putting on a seeming coyness； they
force her through weeds and flags； where she lets fall her eggs or spawn；
which sticks fast to the weeds； and then they let fall their melt upon it； and
so it becomes in a short time to be a living fish： and； as I told you； it is
thought that the Carp does this several months in the year； and most
believe； that most fish breed after this manner； except the Eel。 And it has
been observed； that when the spawner has weakened herself by doing that
natural office； that two or three melters have helped her from off the
weeds； by bearing her up on both sides； and guarding her into the deep。
And you may note； that though this may seem a curiosity not worth
observing； yet others have judged it worth their time and costs to make
glass hives； and order them in such a manner as to see how bees have bred
and made their honeycombs； and how they have obeyed their king； and
governed their commonwealth。 But it is thought that all Carps are not bred
by generation； but that some breed other ways； as some Pikes do。
The physicians make the galls and stones in the heads of Carps to be
very medicinable。 But it is not to be doubted but that in Italy they make
great profit of the spawn of Carps； by selling it to the Jews； who make it
into red caviare； the Jews not being by their law admitted to eat of caviare
made of the Sturgeon； that being a fish that wants scales； and； as may
appear in Leviticus xi。； by them reputed to be unclean。
Much more might be said out of him； and out of Aristotle； which
Dubravius often quotes in his Discourse of Fishes： but it might rather
perplex than satisfy you； and therefore I shall rather choose to direct you
how to catch； than spend more time in discoursing either of the nature or
the breeding of this Carp； or of any more circumstances concerning him。
But yet I shall remember you of what I told you before； that he is a very
subtil fish； and hard to be caught
And my first direction is； that if you will fish for a Carp； you must put
on a very large measure of patience； especially to fish for a river Carp： I
have known a very good fisher angle diligently four or six hours in a day；
for three or four days together； for a river Carp； and not have a bite。 And
you are to note； that； in some ponds； it is as hard to catch a Carp as in a
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river； that is to say； where they have store of feed； and the water is of a
clayish colour。 But you are to remember that I have told you there is no
rule without an exception； and therefore being possess with that hope and
patience which I wish to all fishers； especially to the Carp…angler； I shall
tell you with what bait to fish for him。 But first you are to know； that it
must be either early； or late； and let me tell you； that in hot weather； for he
will seldom bite in cold； you cannot be too early； or too late at it。 And
some have been so curious as to say； the tenth of April is a fatal day for
Carps。
The Carp bites either at worms； or at paste： and of worms I think the
bluish marsh or meadow worm is best； but possibly another worm； not too
big； may do as well； and so may a green gentle： and as for pastes； there are
almost as many sorts as there are medicines for the toothache； but
doubtless sweet pastes are best； I mean； pastes made with honey or with
sugar： which； that you may the better beguile this crafty fish； should be
thrown into the pond or place in which you fish for him； some hours； or
longer； before you undertake your trial of skill with the angle…rod； and
doubtless； if it be thrown into the water a day or two before； at several
times； and in small pellets； you are the likelier； when you fish for the Carp；
to obtain your desired sport。 Or； in a large pond； to draw them to any
certain place； that they may the better and with more hope be fished for；
you are to throw into it； in some certain place； either grains； or blood mixt
with cow…dung or with bran； or any garbage； as chicken's guts or the like；
and then； some of your small sweet pellets with which you propose to
angle： and these small pellets being a few of them also thrown in as you
are angling； will be the better。
And your paste must be thus made： take the flesh of a rabbit； or cat；
cut small； and bean…flour； and if that may not be easily got； get other flour；
and then； mix these together； and put to them either sugar； or honey； which
I think better： and then beat these together in a mortar； or sometimes work
them in your hands； your hands being very clean； and then make it into a
ball； or two； or three； as you like best； for your use： but you must work or
pound it so long in the mortar； as to make it so tough as to hang upon your
hook without washing from it； yet not too hard： or； that you may the better
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keep it on your hook； you may knead with your paste a little； and not too
much； white or yellowish wool。
And if you would have this paste keep all the year； for any other fish；
then mix with it virgin…wax and clarified honey； and work them together
with your hands； before the fire； then make these into balls； and they will
keep all the year。
And if you fish for a Carp with gentles； then put upon your hook a
small piece of scarlet about this bigness； it being soaked in or anointed
with oil of petre； called by some； oil of the rock： and if your gentles be put；
two or three days before； into a box or horn anointed with honey； and so
put upon your hook as to preserve them to be living； you are as like to kill
this crafty fish this way as any other： but still； as you are fishing； chew a
little white or brown bread in your mouth； and cast it into the pond about
the place where your float swims。 Other baits there be； but these； with
diligence and patient watchfulness； will do better than any that I have ever
practiced or heard of。 And yet I shall tell you； that the crumbs of white
bread and honey made into a paste is a good bait for a Carp； and you know；
it is more easily made。 And
