the complete angler-第12章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
time。 Have but a love to it； and I'll warrant you。
Venator。 But； master！ what if I could not have found a grasshopper？
Piscator。 Then I may tell you； That a black snail； with his belly slit； to show his white； or a piece of soft cheese； will usually do as well。 Nay； sometimes a worm； or any kind of fly； as the ant…fly； the flesh…fly； or wall…fly； or the dor or beetle which you may find under cow…dung； or a bob which you will find in the same place； and in time will be a beetle； it is a short white worm； like to and bigger than a gentle； or a cod… worm； or a case…worm； any of these will do very well to fish in such a manner。
And after this manner you may catch a Trout in a hot evening： when； as you walk by a brook； and shall see or hear him leap at flies； then； if you get a grasshopper； put it on your hook； with your line about two yards long； standing behind a bush or tree where his hole is： and make your bait stir up and down on the top of the water。 You may； if you stand close； be sure of a bite； but not sure to catch him； for he is not a leather… mouthed fish。 And after this manner you may fish for him with almost any kind of live fly； but especially with a grasshopper。
Venator。 But before you go further； I pray； good master； what mean you by a leather…mouthed fish ？
Piscator。 By a leather…mouthed fish； I mean such as have their teeth in their throat； as the Chub or Cheven： and so the Barbel； the Gudgeon； and Carp； and divers others have。 And the hook being stuck into the leather； or skin； of the mouth of such fish； does very seldom or never lose its hold： but on the contrary； a Pike； a Perch； or Trout； and so some other fish； which have not their teeth in their throats； but in their mouths； which you shall observe to be very full of bones； and the skin very thin； and little of it。 I say； of these fish the hook never takes so sure hold but you often lose your fish； unless he have gorged it。
Venator。 I thank you； good master； for this observation。 But now what shall be done with my Chub or Cheven that I have caught ？
Piscator。 Marry； Sir； it shall be given away to some poor body； for I'll warrant you I'll give you a Trout for your supper： and it is a good beginning of your art to offer your first…fruits to the poor； who will both thank you and God for it； which I see by your silence you seem to consent to。 And for your willingness to part with it so charitably； I will also teach more concerning Chub…fishing。 You are to note； that in March and April he is usually taken with worms； in May； June； and July； he will bite at any fly； or at cherries； or at beetles with their legs and wings cut off； or at any kind of snail； or at the black bee that breeds in clay walls。 And he never refuses a grasshopper； on the top of a swift stream； nor； at the bottom； the young humble bee that breeds in long grass； and is ordinarily found by the mower of it。 In August； and in the cooler months； a yellow paste； made of the strongest cheese； and pounded in a mortar； with a little butter and saffron； so much of it as； being beaten small； will turn it to a lemon colour。 And some make a paste for the winter months； at which time the Chub is accounted best； for then it is observed； that the forked bones are lost； or turned into a kind of gristle； especially if he be baked； of cheese and turpentine。 He will bite also at a minnow； or peek； as a Trout will： of which I shall tell you more hereafter； and of divers other baits。 But take this for a rule； that； in hot weather； he is to be fished for towards the mid…water； or near the top； and in colder weather； nearer the bottom； and if you fish for him on the top； with a beetle； or any fly； then be sure to let your line be very long； and to keep out of sight。 And having told you； that his spawn is excellent meat； and that the head of a large Cheven； the throat being well washed； is the best part of him； I will say no more of this fish at the present； but wish you may catch the next you fish for。
But； lest you may judge me too nice in urging to have the Chub dressed so presently after he is taken； I will commend to your consideration how curious former times have been in the like kind。
You shall read in Seneca； his Natural Questions； that the ancients were so curious in the newness of their fish； that that semed not new enough that was not put alive into the guest's hand； and he says； that to that end they did usually keep them living in glass bottles in their dining…rooms； and they did glory much in their entertaining of friends； to have that fish taken from under their table alive that was instantly to be fed upon； and he says； they took great pleasure to see their Mullets change to several colours when they were dying。 But enough of this； for I doubt I have staid too long from giving you some Observations of the Trout； and how to fish for him； which shall take up the next of my spare time。
The third day … continued
On the Nature and Breeding of the Trout； and how to fish for him
Chapter IV
Piscator； Venator； Milk…woman； Maudlin； Hostess
Piscator。 The Trout is a fish highly valued； both in this and foreign nations。 He may be justly said； as the old poet said of wine； and we English say of venison； to be a generous fish： a fish that is so like the buck； that he also has his seasons； for it is observed； that he comes in and goes out of season with the stag and buck。 Gesner says； his name is of a German offspring； and says he is a fish that feeds clean and purely； in the swiftest streams； and on the hardest gravel； and that he may justly contend with all fresh water fish； as the Mullet may with all sea fish； for precedency and daintiness of taste； and that being in right season； the most dainty palates have allowed precedency to him。
And before I go farther in my discourse； let me tell you； that you are to observe； that as there be some barren does that are good in summer； so there be some barren Trouts that are good in winter； but there are not many that are so； for usually they be in their perfection in the month of May； and decline with the buck。 Now you are to take notice； that in several countries； as in Germany； and in other parts； compared to ours； fish do differ much in their bigness； and shape； and other ways； and so do Trouts。 It is well known that in the Lake Leman； the Lake of Geneva； there are Trouts taken of three cubits long； as is affirmed by Gesner； a writer of good credit： and Mercator says； the Trouts that are taken in the Lake of Geneva are a great part of the merchandize of that famous city。 And you are further to know； that there be certain waters that breed Trouts remarkable； both for their number and smallness。 I know a little brook in Kent； that breeds them to a number incredible； and you may take them twenty or forty in an hour； but none greater than about the size of a Gudgeon。 There are also； in divers rivers； especially that relate to； or be near to the sea； as Winchester； or the Thames about Windsor； a little Trout called a Samlet； or Skegger Trout； in both which places I have caught twenty or forty at a standing； that will bite as fast and as freely as Minnows： these be by some taken to be young Salmons； but in those waters they never grow to be bigger than a Herring。
There is also in Kent； near to Canterbury； a Trout called there a Fordidge Trout； a Trout that bears the name of the town where it is usually caught； that is accounted the rarest of fish； many of them near the bigness of a Salmon； but known by their different colour； and in their best season they cut very white： and none of these have been known to be caught with an angle； unless it were one that was caught by Sir George Hastings； an excellent angler； and now with God： and he hath told me； he thought that Trout bit not for hunger but wantonness； and it is the rather to be believed； because both he； then； and many others before him； have been curious to search into their bellies； what the food was by which they lived； and have found out nothing by which they might satisfy their curiosity。
Concerning which you are to take notice； that it is reported by good authors； that grasshoppers and some fish have no mouths； but are nourished and take breath by the por
