the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第25节
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Trent； and some other smaller rivers； as that which runs by Salisbury； yet
he is not so general a fish as the Trout； nor to me so good to eat or to angle
for。 And so I shall take my leave of him： and now come to some
observations of the Salmon； and how to catch him。
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The fourth day … continued
The Salmon
Chapter VII
Piscator
The Salmon is accounted the King of freshwater fish； and is ever bred
in rivers relating to the sea； yet so high。 or far from it； as admits of no
tincture of salt； or brackishness。 He is said to breed or cast his spawn； in
most rivers； in the month of August： some say； that then they dig a hole or
grave in a safe place in the gravel； and there place their eggs or spawn；
after the melter has done his natural office； and then hide it most
cunningly； and cover it over with gravel and stones； and then leave it to
their Creator's protection； who； by a gentle heat which he infuses into that
cold element； makes it brood； and beget life in the spawn； and to become
Samlets early in the spring next following。
The Salmons having spent their appointed time； and done this natural
duty in the fresh waters； they then haste to the sea before winter； both the
melter and spawner； but if they be stops by flood…gates or weirs； or lost in
the fresh waters； then those so left behind by degrees grow sick and lean；
and unseasonable； and kipper； that is to say； have bony gristles grow out of
their lower chaps； not unlike a hawk's beak； which hinders their feeding；
and； in time； such fish so left behind pine away and die。 'Tis observed； that
he may live thus one year from the sea； but he then grows insipid and
tasteless； and loses both his blood and strength； and pines and dies the
second year。 And 'tis noted； that those little Salmons called Skeggers；
which abound in many rivers relating to the sea； are bred by such sick
Salmons that might not go to the sea； and that though they abound； yet
they never thrive to any considerable bigness。
But if the old Salmon gets to the sea； then that gristle which shews him
to be kipper； wears away； or is cast off； as the eagle is said to cast his bill；
and he recovers his strength； and comes next summer to the same river； if
it be possible； to enjoy the former pleasures that there possess him； for； as
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one has wittily observed； he has； like some persons of honour and riches
which have both their winter and summer houses； the fresh rivers for
summer； and the salt water for winter； to spend his life in； which is not； as
Sir Francis Bacon hath observed in his History of Life and Death； above
ten years。 And it is to be observed； that though the Salmon does grow big
in the sea； yet he grows not fat but in fresh rivers； and it is observed； that
the farther they get from the sea； they be both the fatter and better。
Next； I shall tell you； that though they make very hard shift to get out
of the fresh rivers into the sea yet they will make harder shift to get out of
the salt into the fresh rivers； to spawn； or possess the pleasures that they
have formerly found in them： to which end； they will force themselves
through floodgates； or over weirs； or hedges； or stops in the water； even to
a height beyond common belief。 Gesner speaks of such places as are
known to be above eight feet high above water。 And our Camden mentions；
in his Britannia； the like wonder to be in Pembrokeshire； where the river
Tivy falls into the sea； and that the fall is so downright； and so high； that
the people stand and wonder at the strength and sleight by which they see
the Salmon use to get out of the sea into the said river； and the manner and
height of the place is so notable； that it is known； far； by the name of the
Salmon…leap。 Concerning which； take this also out of Michael Drayton；
my honest old friend； as he tells it you； in his Polyolbion：
And when the Salmon seeks a fresher stream to find； （Which hither
from the sea comes； yearly； by his kind；） As he towards season grows； and
stems the watry tract Where Tivy； falling down； makes an high cataract；
Forc'd by the rising rocks that there her course oppose； As tho' within her
bounds they meant her to inclose； Here when the labouring fish does at the
foot arrive； And finds that by his strength he does but vainly strive； His tail
takes in his mouth； and； bending like a bow That's to full compass drawn；
aloft himself doth throw； Then springing at his height； as doth a little wand
That bended end to end； and started from man's hand； Far off itself doth
cast； so does that Salmon vault； And if； at first； he fail； his second
summersault He instantly essays； and； from his nimble ring Still yerking；
never leaves until himself he fling Above the opposing stream。
This Michael Drayton tells you； of this leap or summersault of the
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Salmon。
And； next； I shall tell you； that it is observed by Gesner and others；
that there is no better Salmon than in England； and that though some of
our northern counties have as fat； and as large； as the river Thames； yet
none are of so excellent a taste。
And as I have told you that Sir Francis Bacon observes； the age of a
Salmon exceeds not ten years； so let me next tell you； that his growth is
very sudden： it is said that after he is got into the sea； he becomes； from a
Samlet not so big as a Gudgeon； to be a Salmon； in as short a time as a
gosling becomes to be a goose。 Much of this has been observed； by tying a
riband； or some known tape or thread； in the tail of some young Salmons
which have been taken in weirs as they have swimmed towards the salt
water； and then by taking a part of them again； with the known mark； at
the same place； at their return from the sea； which is usually about six
months after； and the like experiment hath been tried upon young
swallows； who have； after six months' absence； been observed to return to
the same chimney； there to make their nests and habitations for the
summer following； which has inclined many to think； that every Salmon
usually returns to the same river in which it was bred； as young pigeons
taken out of the same dovecote have also been observed to do。
And you are yet to observe further； that the He…salmon is usually
bigger than the Spawner； and that he is more kipper； and less able to
endure a winter in the fresh water than the She is： yet she is； at that time of
looking less kipper and better； as watry； and as bad meat。
And yet you are to observe； that as there is no general rule without an
exception； so there are some few rivers in this nation that have Trouts and
Salmon in season in winter； as 'tis certain there be in the river Wye in
Monmouthshire； where they be in season； as Camden observes； from
September till April。 But； my scholar； the observation of this and many
other things I must in manners omit； because they will prove too large for
our narrow compass of time； and； therefore； T shall next fall upon my
directions how to fish for this Salmon。
And； for that： First you shall observe； that usually he stays not long in
a place； as Trouts will； but； as I said； covets still to go nearer the spring…
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head： and that he does not； as the Trout and many other fish； lie near the
water…side or bank； or roots of trees； but swims in the deep and broad parts
of the water； and usually in the middle； and near the ground； and that there
you are to fish for him； and that he is to be caught； as the Trout is； with a
worm； a minnow which some call a peek； or with a fly。
And you are to observe； that he is very seldom observed to bite at a
minnow
