the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第24节
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This kind of way they catch very many： but I would not believe it till I was
an eye…witness of it； nor do I like it now I have seen it。
Venator。 But； master； do not Trouts see us in the night？
Piscator Yes； and hear； and smell too； both then and in the day…time：
for Gesner observes； the Otter smells a fish forty furlongs off him in the
water： and that it may be true； seems to be affirmed by Sir Francis Bacon；
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in the eighth century of his Natural History； who there proves that waters
may be the medium of sounds； by demonstrating it thus： 〃 That if you
knock two stones together very deep under the water； those that stand on a
bank near to that place may hear the noise without any diminution of it by
the water 〃 。 He also offers the like experiment concerning the letting an
anchor fall； by a very long cable or rope； on a rock； or the sand； within the
sea。 And this being so well observed and demonstrated as it is by that
learned man； has made me to believe that Eels unbed themselves and stir
at the noise of thunder； and not only； as some think； by the motion or
stirring of the earth which is occasioned by that thunder。
And this reason of Sir Francis Bacon has made me crave pardon of one
that I laughed at for affirming that he knew Carps come to a certain place；
in a pond； to be fed at the ringing of a bell or the beating of a drum。 And；
however； it shall be a rule for me to make as little noise as I can when I am
fishing； until Sir Francis Bacon be confuted； which I shall give any man
leave to do。
And lest you may think him singular in this opinion； I will tell you；
this seems to be believed by our learned Doctor Hakewill； who in his
Apology of God's power and providence； quotes Pliny to report that one of
the emperors had particular fish…ponds； and； in them； several fish that
appeared and came when they were called by their particular names。 And
St。 James tells us； that all things in the sea have been tamed by mankind。
And Pliny tells us； that Antonia； the wife of Drusus； had a Lamprey at
whose gills she hung jewels or ear…rings； and that others have been so
tender…hearted as to shed tears at the death of fishes which they have kept
and loved。 And these observations； which will to most hearers seem
wonderful； seem to have a further confirmation from Martial； who writes
thus：…
Piscator； fuge； ne nocens； etc。
Angler ！ would'st thou be guiltless ？ then forbear； For these are sacred
fishes that swim here； Who know their sovereign； and will lick his hand；
Than which none's greater in the world's command； Nay more they've
names； and； when they called are； Do to their several owner's call repair。
All the further use that I shall make of this shall be； to advise anglers
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to be patient； and forbear swearing； lest they be heard； and catch no fish。
And so I shall proceed next to tell you； it is certain that certain fields
near Leominster； a town in Herefordshire； are observed to make the sheep
that graze upon them more fat than the next； and also to bear finer wool；
that is to say； that that year in which they feed in such a particular pasture；
they shall yield finer wool than they did that year before they came to feed
in it； and coarser； again； if they shall return to their former pasture； and；
again； return to a finer wool； being fed in the fine wool ground： which I
tell you； that you may the better believe that I am certain； if I catch a Trout
in one meadow； he shall be white and faint； and very like to be lousy； and；
as certainly； it I catch a Trout in the next meadow； he shall be strong； and
red； and lusty； and much better meat Trust me； scholar； I have caught many
a Trout in a particular meadow； that the very shape and the enamelled
colour of him hath been such as hath joyed me to look on him： and I have
then； with much pleasure； concluded with Solomon； 〃Everything is
beautiful in his season〃。
I should； by promise； speak next of the Salmon； but I will； by your
favour； say a little of the Umber or Grayling； which is so like a Trout for
his shape and feeding； that I desire I may exercise your patience with a
short discourse of him； and then； the next shall be of the Salmon。
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The fourth day … continued
The Umber or Grayling
Chapter VI
Piscator
The Umber and Grayling are thought by some to differ as the Herring
and Pilchard do。 But though they may do so in other nations； I think those
in England differ nothing but in their names。 Aldrovandus says； they be of
a Trout kind； and Gesner says； that in his country； which is Switzerland； he
is accounted the choicest of all fish。 And in Italy； he is； in the month of
May； so highly valued； that he is sold there at a much higher rate than any
other fish。 The French； which call the Chub Un Villain； call the Umber of
the lake Leman Un Umble Chevalier； and they value the Umber or
Grayling so highly； that they say he feeds on gold； and say； that many have
been caught out of their famous river of Loire； out of whose bellies grains
of gold have been often taken。 And some think that he feeds on water
thyme； and smells of it at his first taking out of the water； and they may
think so with as good reason as we do that our Smelts smell like violets at
their being first caught； which I think is a truth。 Aldrovandus says； the
Salmon； the Grayling； and Trout； and all fish that live in clear and sharp
streams； are made by their mother Nature of such exact shape and pleasant
colours purposely to invite us to a joy and contentedness in feasting with
her。 Whether this is a truth or not； is not my purpose to dispute： but 'tis
certain； all that write of the Umber declare him to be very medicinable。
And Gesner says； that the fat of an Umber or Grayling； being set； with a
little honey； a day or two in the sun； in a little glass； is very excellent
against redness or swarthiness； or anything that breeds in the eyes。 Salvian
takes him to be called Umber from his swift swimming； or gliding out of
sight more like a shadow or a ghost than a fish。 Much more might be said
both of his smell and taste： but I shall only tell you that St。 Ambrose； the
glorious bishop of Milan； who lived when the church kept fasting…days；
calls him the flower…fish； or flower of fishes； and that he was so far in love
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with him； that he would not let him pass without the honour of a long
discourse； but I must； and pass on to tell you how to take this dainty fish。
First note； that he grows not to the bigness of a Trout； for the biggest
of them do not usually exceed eighteen inches。 He lives in such rivers as
the Trout does； and is usually taken with the same baits as the Trout is； and
after the same manner； for he will bite both at the minnow； or worm； or fly；
though he bites not often at the minnow； and is very gamesome at the fly；
and much simpler； and therefore bolder than a Trout； for he will rise
twenty times at a fly； if you miss him； and yet rise again。 He has been
taken with a fly made of the red feathers of a paroquet； a strange
outlandish bird； and he will rise at a fly not unlike a gnat； or a small moth；
or； indeed； at most flies that are not too big。 He is a fish that lurks close all
Winter； but is very pleasant and jolly after mid…April； and in May； and in
the hot months。 He is of a very fine shape； his flesh is white； his teeth；
those little ones that he has； are in his throat； yet he has so tender a mouth；
that he is oftener lost after an angler has hooked him than any other fish。
Though there be many of these fishes in the delicate river Dove； and in
Trent； and some other smaller rivers； as that whic
