the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第34节
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windowy net；
Let coarse bold hands； from slimy nest； The bedded fish in banks
outwrest； Let curious traitors sleeve silk flies； To 'witch poor wand'ring
fishes' eyes。
For thee； thou need'st no such deceit； For thou thyself art shine own
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bait； That fish that is not catcht thereby； Is wiser afar； alas； than I。
Piscator。 Well remembered； honest scholar。 I thank you for these
choice verses； which I have heard formerly； but had quite forgot； till they
were recovered by your happy memory。 Well； being I have now rested
myself a little； I will make you some requital； by telling you some
observations of the Eel； for it rains still： and because； as you say； our
angles are as money put to use； that thrives when we play； therefore we'll
sit still； and enjoy ourselves a little longer under this honeysuckle hedge。
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The fourth day…continued
Of the Eel； and other Fish that want Scales
Chapter XIII
Piscator
It is agreed by most men； that the Eel is a most dainty fish： the
Romans have esteemed her the Helena of their feasts； and some the queen
of palate…pleasure。 But most men differ about their breeding： some say
they breed by generation； as other fish do； and others； that they breed； as
some worms do； of mud； as rats and mice； and many other living creatures；
are bred in Egypt； by the sun's heat when it shines upon the overflowing of
the river Nilus； or out of the putrefaction of the earth； and divers other
ways。 Those that deny them to breed by generation； as other fish do； ask；
If any man ever saw an Eel to have a spawn or melt ？ And they are
answered； That they may be as certain of their breeding as if they had seen
spawn； for they say； that they are certain that Eels have all parts fit for
generation； like other fish； but so small as not to be easily discerned； by
reason of their fatness； but that discerned they may be； and that the He and
the She Eel may be distinguished by their fins。 And Rondeletius says； he
has seen Eels cling together like dew…worms。
And others say； that Eels； growing old； breed other Eels out of the
corruption of their own age； which； Sir Francis Bacon says； exceeds not
ten years。 And others say； that as pearls are made of glutinous dewdrops；
which are condensed by the sun's heat in those countries； so Eels are bred
of a particular dew； falling in the months of May or June on the banks of
some particular ponds or rivers； apted by nature for that end； which in a
few clays are； by the sun's heat； turned into Eels： and some of the Ancients
have called the Eels that are thus bred； the offspring of Jove。 I have seen；
in the beginning of July； in a river not far from Canterbury； some parts of
it covered over with young Eels； about the thickness of a straw； and these
Eels did lie on the top of that water； as thick as motes are said to be in the
sun： and I have heard the like of other rivers； as namely； in Severn； where
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they are called Yelvers； and in a pond； or mere near unto Staffordshire；
where； about a set time in summer； such small Eels abound so much； that
many of the poorer sort of people that inhabit near to it； take such Eels out
of this mere with sieves or sheets； and make a kind of Eel…cake of them；
and eat it like as bread。 And Gesner quotes Venerable Bede； to say； that in
England there is an island called Ely； by reason of the innumerable
number of Eels that breed in it。 But that Eels may be bred as some worms；
and some kind of bees and wasps are； either of dew； or out of the
corruption of the earth； seems to be made probable by the barnacles and
young goslings bred by the sun's heat and the rotten planks of an old ship；
and hatched of trees； both which are related for truths by Du Bartas and
Lobel； and also by our learned Camden； and laborious Gerhard in his
Herbal。
It is said by Rondeletius； that those Eels that are bred in rivers that
relate to or be nearer to the sea； never return to the fresh waters； as the
Salmon does always desire to do； when they have once tasted the salt
water； and I do the more easily believe this； because I am certain that
powdered beef is a most excellent bait to catch an Eel。 And though Sir
Francis Bacon will allow the Eel's life to be but ten years； yet he； in his
History of Life and Death； mentions a Lamprey； belonging to the Roman
emperor； to be made tame； and so kept for almost threescorc years； and
that such useful and pleasant observations were made of this Lamprey； that
Crassus the orator； who kept her； lamented her death； and we read in
Doctor Hakewill； that Hortensius was seen to weep at the death of a
Lamprey that he had kept long； and loved exceedingly。
It is granted by all； or most men； that Eels； for about six months； that is
to say； the six cold months of the year； stir not up or down； neither in the
rivers； nor in the pools in which they usually are； but get into the soft earth
or mud； and there many of them together bed themselves； and live without
feeding upon anything； as I have told you some swallows have been
observed to do in hollow trees； for those six cold months。 And this the Eel
and Swallow do； as not being able to endure winter weather： for Gesner
quotes Albertus to say； that in the year 1125； that year's winter being more
cold than usually； Eels did； by nature's instinct； get out of the water into a
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stack of hay in a meadow upon dry ground； and there bedded themselves：
but yet； at last； a frost killed them。 And our Camden relates； that； in
Lancashire； fishes were digged out of the earth with spades； where no
water was near to the place。 I shall say little more of the Eel； but that； as it
is observed he is impatient of cold； so it hath been observed； that； in warm
weather； an Eel has been known to live five days out of the water。
And lastly； let me tell you； that some curious searchers into the natures
of fish observe； that there be several sorts or kinds of Eels； as the silver
Eel； the green or greenish Eel； with which the river of Thames abounds；
and those are called Grigs； and a blackish Eel； whose head is more flat and
bigger than ordinary Eels； and also an Eel whose fins are reddish； and but
seldom taken in this nation； and yet taken sometimes。 These several kind
of Eels are； say some； diversely bred； as； namely； out of the corruption of
the earth； and some by dew； and other ways； as I have said to you： and yet
it is affirmed by some for a certain； that the silver Eel is bred by
generation； but not by spawning as other fish do； but that her brood come
alive from her； being then little live Eels no bigger nor longer than a pin；
and I have had too many testimonies of this； to doubt the truth of it myself；
and if I thought it needful I might prove it； but I think it is needless。
And this Eel； of which I have said so much to you； may be caught with
divers kinds of baits： as namely； with powdered beef； with a lob or garden
worm； with a minnow； or gut of a hen； chicken； or the guts of any fish； or
with almost anything； for he is a greedy fish。 But the Eel may be caught；
especially； with a little； a very little Lamprey； which some call a Pride； and
may； in the hot months； be found many of them in the river Thames； and in
many mud…heaps in other rivers； yea； almost as usually as one finds
worms in a dunghill。
Next note； that the Eel seldom stirs in the day； but then hides himself；
and therefore he is usually caught by night； with one of these baits of
which I have spoken； and may be then caught by laying hooks；
