the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第36节
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shallowest and sharpest streams： and love to lurk under weeds； and to feed
on gravel； against a rising ground； and will root and dig in the sands with
his nose like a hog； and there nests himself： yet sometimes he retires to
deep and swift bridges； or flood…gates； or weir； where he will nest himself
amongst piles； or in hollow places； and take such hold of moss or weeds；
that be the water never so swift； it is not able to force him from the place
that he contends for。 This is his constant custom in summer； when he and
most living creatures sport themselves in the sun： but at the approach of
winter； then he forsakes the swift streams and shallow waters； and； by
degrees； retires to those parts of the river that are quiet and deeper； in
which places； and I think about that time he spawns； and； as I have
formerly told you； with the help of the melter； hides his spawn or eggs in
holes； which they both dig in the gravel； and then they mutually labour to
cover it with the same sand； to prevent it from being devoured by other
fish。
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There be such store of this fish in the river Danube； that Rondeletius
says they may； in some places of it； and in some months of the year； be
taken； by those who dwell near to the river； with their hands； eight or ten
load at a time。 He says； they begin to be good in May； and that they cease
to be so in August： but it is found to be otherwise in this nation。 But thus
far we agree with him； that the spawn of a Barbel； if it be not poison； as he
says； yet that it is dangerous meat； and especially in the month of May；
which is so certain； that Gesner and Gasius declare it had an ill effect upon
them； even to the endangering of their lives。
The fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape； with small scales； which
are placed after a most exact and curious manner； and； as I told you； may
be rather said not to be ill； than to be good meat； The Chub and he have； I
think； both lost part of their credit by ill cookery； they being reputed the
worst； or coarsest； of fresh…water fish。 But the Barbel affords an angler
choice sport； being a lusty and a cunning fish； so lusty and cunning as to
endanger the breaking of the angler's line； by running his head forcibly
towards any covert； or hole； or bank； and then striking at the line； to break
it off； with his tail； as is observed by Plutarch； in his book De Industria
Animalium： and also so cunning； to nibble and suck off your worm close
to the hook； and yet avoid the letting the hook come into his mouth。
The Barbel is also curious for his baits； that is to say； that they be clean
and sweet； that is to say； to have your worms well scoured； and not kept in
sour and musty moss； for he is a curious feeder： but at a well…scoured lob…
worm he will bite as boldly as at any bait； and specially if； the night or two
before you fish for him； you shall bait the places where you intend to fish
for him； with big worms cut into pieces。 And note； that none did ever over…
bait the place； nor fish too early or too late for a Barbel。 And the Barbel
will bite also at generals； which； not being too much scoured； but green；
are a choice bait for him： and so is cheese； which is not to be too hard； but
kept a day or two in a wet linen cloth； to make it tough； with this you may
also bait the water a day or two before you fish for the Barbel； and be
much the likelier to catch store； and if the cheese were laid in clarified
honey a short time before； as namely； an hour or two； you were still the
likelier to catch fish。 Some have directed to cut the cheese into thin pieces；
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and toast it； and then tie it on the hook with fine silk。 And some advise to
fish for the Barbel with sheep's tallow and soft cheese； beaten or worked
into a paste； and that it is choicely good in August： and I believe it。 Rut；
doubtless； the lob… worm well scoured； and the gentle not too much
scoured； and cheese ordered as I have directed； are baits enough； and I
think will serve in any month： though I shall commend any angler that
tries conclusions； and is industrious to improve the art And now my honest
scholar； the long shower and my tedious discourse are both ended together：
and I shall give you but this observation； that when you fish for a Barbel；
your rod and line be both long and of good strength； for； as I told you； you
will find him a heavy and a dogged fish to be dealt withal； yet he seldom
or never breaks his hold； if he be once strucken。 And if you would know
more of fishing for the Umber or Barbel； get into favour with Dr。 Sheldon；
whose skill is above others； and of that； the poor that dwell about him
have a comfortable experience。
And now let's go and see what interest the Trouts will pay us； for
letting our angle…rods lie so long and so quietly in the water for their use。
Come； scholar； which will you take up ？
Venator。 Which you think fit； master。
Piscator。 Why； you shall take up that； for I am certain； by viewing the
line； it has a fish at it。 Look you； scholar！ well done！ Come； now take up
the other too： well！ now you may tell my brother Peter； at night； that you
have caught a leash of Trouts this day。 And now let's move towards our
lodging； and drink a draught of red…cow's milk as we go； and give pretty
Maudlin and her honest mother a brace of Trouts for their supper。
Venator。 Master； I like your motion very well： and I think it is now
about milking…time； and yonder they be at it
Piscator。 God speed you； good woman ！ I thank you both for our songs
last night： I and my companion have had such fortune a…fishing this day；
that we resolve to give you and Maudlin a brace of Trouts for supper； and
we will now taste a draught of your red…cow's milk。
Milk…woman。 Marry； and that you shall with all my heart； and I will be
still your debtor when you come this way。 If you will but speak the word； I
will make you a good syllabub of new verjuice； and then you may sit
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down in a haycock； and eat it； and Maudlin shall sit by and sing you the
good old song of the 〃 Hunting in Chevy Chace； 〃 or some other good
ballad； for she hath store of them： Maudlin； my honest Maudlin； hath a
notable memory； and she thinks nothing too good for you； because you be
such honest men。
Venator。 We thank you； and intend； once in a month to call upon you
again； and give you a little warning； and so； good…night Good…night；
Maudlin。 And now； good master； let's lose no time： but tell me somewhat
more of fishing； and if you please； first； something of fishing for a
Gudgeon。
Piscator。 I will； honest scholar。
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The fourth day…continued
Of the Gudgeon； the Ruffe； and the Bleak
Chapter XV
Piscator
The GUDGEON is reputed a fish of excellent taste； and to be very
wholesome。 He is of a fine shape； of a silver colour； and beautified with
black spots both on his body and tail。 He breeds two or three times in the
year； and always in summer。 He is commended for a fish of excellent
nourishment。 The Germans call him Groundling； by reason of his feeding
on the ground； and he there feasts himself； in sharp streams and on the
gravel。 He and the Barbel both feed so： and do not hunt for flies at any
time； as most other fishes do。 He is an excellent fish to enter a young
angler； being easy to be taken with a small red worm； on or very near to
the ground。 He is one of those leather…mouthed fish that has his teeth in his
throat； and will hardly be lost off from the hook if he be once strucken。
They be usually scattered up and down every river in the shallows； in
the heat of summer： but in autumn； when the weeds begin to grow sour
and rot； and the weather colder； then they ga
