the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第14节
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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 porousness of their gills； man knows not
how： and this may be believed； if we consider that when the raven hath
hatched her eggs； she takes no further care； but leaves her young ones to
the care of the God of nature； who is said； in the Psalms； 〃to feed the
young ravens that call upon him 〃。 And they be kept alive and fed by a
dew； or worms that breed in their nests； or some other ways that we
mortals know not。 And this may be believed of the Fordidge Trout； which；
as it is said of the stork； that he knows his season； so he knows his times； I
think almost his day of coming into that river out of the sea； where he
lives； and； it is like； feeds； nine months of the year； and fasts three in the
river of Fordidge。 And you are to note； that those townsmen are very
punctual in observing the time of beginning to fish for them； and boast
much； that their river affords a Trout that exceeds all others。 And just so
does Sussex boast of several fish； as； namely； a Shelsey Cockle； a
Chichester Lobster； an Arundel Mullet； and an Amerly Trout。
And； now； for some confirmation of the Fordidge Trout： you are to
know that this Trout is thought to eat nothing in the fresh water； and it
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may be the better believed； because it is well known； that swallows； and
bats； and wagtails； which are called half…year birds； and not seen to fly in
England for six months in the year； but about Michaelmas leave us for a
hotter climate； yet some of them that have been left behind their fellows；
have been found； many thousands at a time； in hollow trees； or clay caves；
where they have been observed to live； and sleep out the whole winter；
without meat。 And so Albertus observes； That there is one kind of frog that
hath her mouth naturally shut up about the end of August； and that she
lives so all the winter： and though it be strange to some； yet it is known to
too many among us to be doubted。
And so much for these Fordidge Trouts； which never afford an angler
sport； but either live their time of being in the fresh water； by their meat
formerly gotten in the sea； not unlike the swallow or frog； or； by the virtue
of the fresh water only； or； as the birds of Paradise and the cameleon are
said to live； by the sun and the air。
There is also in Northumberland a Trout called a Bull…trout； of a much
greater length and bigness than any in these southern parts； and there are；
in many rivers that relate to the sea； Salmon…trouts； as much different from
others； both in shape and in their spots； as we see sheep in some countries
differ one from another in their shape and bigness； and in the fineness of
the wool： and； certainly； as some pastures breed larger sheep； so do some
rivers； by reason of the ground over which they run； breed larger Trouts。
Now the next thing that I will commend to your consideration is； that
the Trout is of a more sudden growth than other fish。 Concerning which；
you are also to take notice； that he lives not so long as the Pearch； and
divers other fishes do； as Sir Francis Bacon hath observed in his History of
Life and Death。
And next you are to take notice； that he is not like the Crocodile；
which if he lives never so long； vet always thrives till his death： but 'tis not
so with the Trout； for after he is come to his full growth； he declines in his
body； and keeps his bigness； or thrives only in his head till his death。 And
you are to know； that he will； about； especially before； the time of his
spawning； get； almost miraculously； through weirs and flood…gates； against
the stream； even through such high and swift places as is almost incredible。
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Next； that the Trout usually spawns about October or November； but in
some rivers a little sooner or later； which is the more observable； because
most other fish spawn in the spring or summer； when the sun hath warmed
both the earth and water； and made it fit for generation。 And you are to
note； that he continues many months out of season； for it may be observed
of the Trout； that he is like the Buck or the Ox； that will not be fat in many
months； though he go in the very same pastures that horses do； which will
be fat in one month： and so you may observe； That most other fishes
recover strength； and grow sooner fat and in season than the Trout doth。
And next you are to note； That till the sun gets to such a height as to
warm the earth and the water； the Trout is sick； and lean； and lousy； and
unwholesome； for you shall； in winter； find him to have a big head； and；
then； to be lank and thin and lean； at which time many of them have
sticking on them Sugs； or Trout…lice； which is a kind of a worm； in shape
like a clove； or pin with a big head； and sticks close to him； and sucks his
moisture； those； I think； the Trout breeds himself： and never thrives till he
free himself from them； which is when warm weather comes； and； then； as
he grows stronger； he gets from the dead still water into the sharp streams
and the gravel； and； there； rubs off these worms or lice； and then； as he
grows stronger； so he gets him into swifter and swifter streams； and there
lies at the watch for any fly or minnow that comes near to him； and he
especially loves the May…fly； which is bred of the cod…worm； or cadis； and
these make the Trout bold and lusty； and he is usually fatter and better
meat at the end of that month than at any time of the year。
Now you are to know that it is observed； that usually the best Trouts
are either red or yellow； though some； as the Fordidge Trout； be white and
yet good； but that is not usual： and it is a note observable； that the female
Trout hath usually a less head； and a deeper body than the male Trout； and
is usually the better meat。 And note； that a hog back and a little head； to
either Trout； Salmon or any other fish； is a sign that that fish is in season。
But yet you are to note； that as you see some willows or palm…trees
bud and blossom sooner than others do； so some Trouts be； in rivers；
sooner in season： and as some hollies； or oaks； are longer before they cast
their leaves； so are some Trouts； in rivers； longer before they go out of
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season。
And you are to note； that there are several kinds of Trouts： but these
several kinds are not considered but by very few men； for they go under
the general name of Trouts； just as pigeons do； in most places； though it is
certain； there are tame and wild pigeons； and of the tame； there be hermits
and runts； and carriers and cropers； and indeed too many to name。 Nay； the
Royal Society have found and published lately； that there be thirty and
three kinds of spiders； and yet all； for aught I know； go under that one
general name of spider。 And it is so with many kinds of fish； and of Trouts
especially； which differ in their bigness； and shape； and spots； and colour。
The great Kentish hens may be an instance； compared to other hens： and；
doubtless； there is a kind of small Trout； which will never thrive to be big；
that breeds very many more than others do； that be of a larger
