the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第32节
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upright half an inch above the water。
Thus you having found and fitted for the place and depth thereof； then
go home and prepare your ground…bait； which is； next to the fruit of your
labours； to be regarded。
The GROUND…BAIT。
You shall take a peck； or a peck and a half； according to the greatness
of the stream and deepness of the water； where you mean to angle； of
sweet gross…ground barley…malt； and boil it in a kettle； one or two warms
is enough： then strain it through a bag into a tub； the liquor whereof hath
often done my horse much good； and when the bag and malt is near cold；
take it down to the water…side； about eight or nine of the clock in the
evening； and not before： cast in two parts of your ground…bait； squeezed
hard between both your hands； it will sink presently to the bottom； and be
sure it may rest in the very place where you mean to angle： if the stream
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run hard； or move a little； cast your malt in handfuls a little the higher；
upwards the stream。 You may； between your hands； close the malt so fast
in handfuls； that the water will hardly part it with the fall。
Your ground thus baited； and tackling fitted； leave your bag； with the
rest of your tackling and ground…bait； near the sporting…place all night； and
in the morning； about three or four of the clock； visit the water… side； but
not too near； for they have a cunning watchman； and are watchful
themselves too。
Then； gently take one of your three rods； and bait your hook； casting it
over your ground…bait； and gently and secretly draw it to you till the lead
rests about the middle of the ground…bait。
Then take a second rod； and cast in about a yard above； and your third
a yard below the first rod； and stay the rods in the ground： but go yourself
so far from the water…side； that you perceive nothing but the top of the
floats； which you must watch most diligently。 Then when you have a bite；
you shall perceive the top of your float to sink suddenly into the water： yet；
nevertheless； be not too hasty to run to your rods； until you see that the
line goes clear away； then creep to the water…side； and give as much line as
possibly you can： if it be a good Carp or Bream； they will go to the farther
side of the river： then strike gently； and hold your rod at a bent； a little
while； but if you both pull together； you are sure to lose your game； for
either your line； or hook； or hold； will break： and after you have overcome
them； they will make noble sport； and are very shy to be landed。 The Carp
is far stronger and more mettlesome than the Bream。
Much more is to be observed in this kind of fish and fishing； but it is
far fitter for experience and discourse than paper。 Only； thus much is
necessary for you to know； and to be mindful and careful of； that if the
Pike or Perch do breed in that river； they will be sure to bite first； and must
first be taken。 And for the most part they are very large； and will repair to
your ground…bait； not that they will eat of it； but will feed and sport
themselves among the young fry that gather about and hover over the bait。
The way to discern the Pike and to take him； it you mistrust your Bream
hook； for I have taken a Pike a yard long several times at my Bream hooks；
and sometimes he hath had the luck to share my line； may be thus：
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Take a small Bleak； or Roach； or Gudgeon； and bait it； and set it； alive；
among your rods； two feet deep from the cork； with a little red worm on
the point of the hook： then take a few crumbs of white bread； or some of
the ground…bait； and sprinkle it gently amongst your rods。 If Mr。 Pike be
there； then the little fish will skip out of the water at his appearance； but
the live…set bait is sure to be taken。
Thus continue your sport from four in the morning till eight； and if it
be a gloomy windy day； they will bite all day long： but this is too long to
stand to your rods； at one place； and it will spoil your evening sport that
day； which is this。
About four of the clock in the afternoon repair to your baited place；
and as soon as you come to the water…side； cast in one…half of the rest of
your ground…bait； and stand off； then whilst the fish are gathering together；
for there they will most certainly come for their supper； you may take a
pipe of tobacco： and then； in with your three rods； as in the morning。 You
will find excellent sport that evening； till eight of the clock： then cast in
the residue of your ground…bait； and next morning； by four of the clock；
visit them again for four hours； which is the best sport of all； and after that；
let them rest till you and your friends have a mind to more sport。
From St。 James's…tide until Bartholomew…tide is the best； when they
have had all the summer's food； they are the fattest。
Observe； lastly； that after three or four days' fishing together； your
game will be very shy and wary； and you shall hardly get above a bite or
two at a baiting： then your only way is to desist from your sport； about two
or three days： and in the meantime； on the place you late baited； and again
intend to bait； you shall take a turf of green but short grass； as big or
bigger than a round trencher； to the top of this turf； on the green side； you
shall； with a needle and green thread； fasten one by one； as many little red
worms as will near cover all the turf： then take a round board or trencher；
make a hole in the middle thereof； and through the turf placed on the
board or trencher； with a string or cord as long as is fitting； tied to a pole；
let it down to the bottom of the water； for the fish to feed upon without
disturbance about two or three days； and after that you have drawn it away；
you may fall to； and enjoy your former recreation。
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B。 A。
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The fourth day…continued
On the Tench
Chapter XI
Piscator
The Tench； the physician of fishes； is observed to love ponds better
than rivers； and to love pits better than either： yet Camden observes； there
is a river in Dorsetshire that abounds with Tenches； but doubtless they
retire to the most deep and quiet places in it。
This fish hath very large fins； very small and smooth scales； a red
circle about his eyes； which are big and of a gold colour； and from either
angle of his mouth there hangs down a little barb。 In every Tench's head
there are two little stones which foreign physicians make great use of； but
he is not commended for wholesome meat； though there be very much use
made of them for outward applications。 Rondeletius says； that at his being
at Rome； he saw a great cure done by applying a Tench to the feet of a
very sick man。 This； he says； was done after an unusual manner； by certain
Jews。 And it is observed that many of those people have many secrets yet
unknown to Christians； secrets that have never yet been written； hut have
been since the days of their Solomon； who knew the nature of all things；
even from the cedar to the shrub； delivered by tradition； from the father to
the son； and so from generation to generation； without writing； or； unless it
were casually； without the least communicating them to any other nation
or tribe； for to do that they account a profanation。 And； yet； it is thought
that they； or some spirit worse than they； first told us； that lice； swallowed
alive； were a certain cure for the yellow…jaundice。 This； and many other
medicines； were discovered by them； or by revelation； for； doubtless； we
attained them not by study
Well； this fish； besides his eating； is very useful； both dead and alive；
for the good of mankind。 But I will meddle no more with that； my honest；
humble art teaches no such boldness： there are too many foolish meddlers
in physick and divinity that think themselves fit to meddle
