the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第31节
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bread and honey made into a paste is a good bait for a Carp； and you know；
it is more easily made。 And having said thus much of the Carp； my next
discourse shall be of the Bream； which shall not prove so tedious； and
therefore I desire the continuance of your attention。
But； first； I will tell you how to make this Carp； that is so curious to be
caught； so curious a dish of meat as shall make him worth all your labour
and patience。 And though it is not without some trouble and charges； yet it
will recompense both。
Take a Carp； alive if possible； scour him； and rub him clean with water
and salt； but scale him not： then open him； and put him； with his blood and
his liver； which you must save when you open him； into a small pot or
kettle： then take sweet marjoram； thyme； and parsley； of each half a
handful； a sprig of rosemary； and another of savoury； bind them into two
or three small bundles； and put them in your Carp； with four or five whole
onions； twenty pickled oysters； and three anchovies。 Then pour upon your
Carp as much claret wine as will only cover him； and season your claret
well with salt； cloves； and mace； and the rinds of oranges and lemons。
That done； cover your pot and set it on a quick fire till it be sufficiently
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boiled。 Then take out the Carp； and lay it； with the broth； into the dish； and
pour upon it a quarter of a pound of the best fresh butter； melted； and
beaten with half a dozen spoonfuls of the broth； the yolks of two or three
eggs； and some of the herbs shred： garnish your dish with lemons； and so
serve it up。 And much good do you！ Dr。 T。
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The fourth day…continued
On the Bream
Chapter X
Piscator
The Bream； being at a full growth； is a large and stately fish。 He will
breed both in rivers and ponds： but loves best to live in ponds； and where；
if he likes the water and air； he will grow not only to be very large； but as
fat as a hog。 He is by Gesner taken to be more pleasant； or sweet； than
wholesome。 This fish is long in growing； but breeds exceedingly in a
water that pleases him； yea； in many ponds so fast； as to overstore them；
and starve the other fish。
He is very broad； with a forked tail； and his scales set in excellent
order； he hath large eyes； and a narrow sucking mouth； he hath two sets of
teeth； and a lozenge…like bone； a bone to help his grinding。 The melter is
observed to have two large melts； and the female； two large bags of eggs
or spawn。
Gesner reports； that in Poland a certain and a great number of large
breams were put into a pond； which in the next following winter were
frozen up into one entire ice； and not one drop of water remaining； nor one
of these fish to be found； though they were diligently searched for； and yet
the next spring； when the ice was thawed； and the weather warm； and fresh
water got into the pond； he affirms they all appeared again。 This Gesner
affirms； and I quote my author； because it seems almost as incredible as
the resurrection to an atheist： but it may win something； in point of
believing it； to him that considers the breeding or renovation of the silk…
worm； and of many insects。 And that is considerable； which Sir Francis
Bacon observes in his History of Life and Death； fol。 20； that there be
some herbs that die and spring every year； and some endure longer。
But though some do not； yet the French esteem this fish highly； and to
that end have this proverb 〃 He that hath Breams in his pond； is able to bid
his friend welcome 〃； and it is noted； that the best part of a Bream is his
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belly and head。
Some say； that Breams and Roaches will mix their eggs and melt
together； and so there is in many places a bastard breed of Breams； that
never come to be either large or good； but very numerous。
The baits good to catch this Bream are many。 First； paste made of
brown bread and honey； gentles； or the brood of wasps that be young； and
then not unlike gentles； and should be hardened in an oven； or dried on a
tile before the fire to make them tough。 Or； there is； at the root of docks or
flags or rushes； in watery places； a worm not unlike a maggot； at which
Tench will bite freely。 Or he will bite at a grasshopper with his legs nipt
off； in June and July； or at several flies； under water； which may be found
on flags that grow near to the water…side。 I doubt not but that there be
many other baits that are good； but I will turn them all into this most
excellent one； either for a Carp or Bream； in any river or mere： it was
given to me by a most honest and excellent angler； and hoping you will
prove both； I will impart it to you。
1。 Let your bait be as big a red worm as you can find； without a knot：
get a pint or quart of them in an evening； in garden…walks； or chalky
commons； after a shower of rain； and put them with clean moss well
washed and picked； and the water squeezed out of the moss as dry as you
can； into an earthen pot or pipkin set dry； and change the moss fresh every
three or four days； for three weeks or a month together； then your bait will
be at the best； for it will be clear and lively。
2； Having thus prepared your baits； get your tackling ready and fitted
for this sport。 Take three long angling…rods； and as many and more silk； or
silk and hair； lines； and as many large swan or goose…quill floats。 Then
take a piece of lead； and fasten them to the low ends of your lines： then
fasten your link…hook also to the lead； and let there be about a foot or ten
inches between the lead and the hook： but be sure the lead be heavy
enough to sink the float or quill； a little under the water； and not the quill
to bear up the lead； for the lead must lie on the ground。 Note； that your
link next the hook may be smaller than the rest of your line； if you dare
adventure； for fear of taking the Pike or Perch； who will assuredly visit
your hooks； till they be taken out； as I will show you afterwards； before
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either Carp or Bream will come near to bite。 Note also； that when the
worm is well baited； it will crawl up and down as far as the lead will give
leave； which much enticeth the fish to bite without suspicion。
3。 Having thus prepared your baits； and fitted your tackling； repair to
the river； where you have seen them swim in skulls or shoals。 in the
summer…time； in a hot afternoon； about three or four of the clock； and
watch their going forth of their deep holes； and returning； which you may
well discern； for they return about four of the clock； most of them seeking
food at the bottom； yet one or two will lie on the top of the water； rolling
and tumbling themselves； whilst the rest are under him at the bottom； and
so you shall perceive him to keep sentinel： then mark where he plays most
and stays longest； which commonly is in the broadest and deepest place of
the river； and there； or near thereabouts； at a clear bottom and a convenient
landing…place； take one of your angles ready fitted as aforesaid； and sound
the bottom； which should be about eight or ten feet deep； two yards from
the bank is best。 Then consider with yourself； whether that water will rise
or fall by the next morning； by reason of any water…mills near； and；
according to your discretion； take the depth of the place； where you mean
after to cast your ground…bait； and to fish； to half an inch； that the lead
lying on or near the ground…bait； the top of the float may only appear
upright half an inch above the water。
Thus you having found and fitted for the pla
