the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第41节
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brook； with a little stick in my hand； with which I might easily take these；
and consider the curiosity of their composure： and if you should ever like
to do so； then note； that your stick must be a little hazel； or willow； cleft；
or have a nick at one end of it； by which means you may； with ease； take
many of them in that nick out of the water； before you have any occasion
to use them。 These； my honest scholar； are some observations； told to you
as they now come suddenly into my memory； of which you may make
some use： but for the practical part； it is that that makes an angler： it is
diligence； and observation； and practice； and an ambition to be the best in
the art； that must do it。 I will tell you； scholar； I once heard one say； 〃 I
envy not him that eats better meat than I do； nor him that is richer； or that
wears better clothes than I do： I envy nobody but him； and him only； that
catches more fish than I do 〃。 And such a man is like to prove an angler；
and this noble emulation I wish to you； and all young anglers。
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The FIFTH day…continued
Of the Minnow； or Penk； Loach； Bull…Head； or Miller's… Thumb：
and the Stickle…bag
Chapter XVIII
Piscator and Venator
Piscator。 There be also three or four other little fish that I had almost
forgot； that are all without scales； and may for excellency of meat； be
compared to any fish of greatest value and largest size。 They be usually
full of eggs or spawn； all the months of summer； for they breed often； as
'tis observed mice and many of the smaller four…footed creatures of the
earth do and as those； so these come quickly to their full growth and
perfection。 And it is needful that they breed both often and numerously；
for they be； besides other accidents of ruin； both a prey and baits for other
fish。 And first I shall tell you of the Minnow or Penk。
The MINNOW hath； when he is in perfect season； and not sick； which
is only presently after spawning； a kind of dappled or waved colour； like to
a panther； on its sides； inclining to a greenish or sky…colour； his belly
being milk white； and his back almost black or blackish。 He is a sharp
biter at a small worm； and in hot weather makes excellent sport for young
anglers； or boys； or women that love that recreation。 And in the spring they
make of them excellent Minnow…tansies； for being washed well in salt；
and their heads and tails cut off； and their guts taken out； and not washed
after； they prove excellent for that use； that is； being fried with yolk of
eggs； the flowers of cowslips and of primroses； and a little tansy； thus used
they make a dainty dish of meat。
The LOACH is； as I told you； a most dainty fish： he breeds and feeds
in little and clear swift brooks or rills； and lives there upon the gravel； and
in the sharpest streams： he grows not to be above a finger long； and no
thicker than is suitable to that length The Loach is not unlike the shape of
the Eel： he has a beard or wattles like a barbel。 He has two fins at his sides；
four at his belly； and one et his tail； he is dappled with many black or
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brown spots； his mouth is barbel…like under his nose。 This fish is usually
full of eggs or spawn； and is by Gesner； and other learned physicians；
commended for great nourishment； and to be very grateful both to the
palate and stomach of sick persons。 He is to be fished for with a very small
worm； at the bottom； for he very seldom； or never； rises above the gravel；
on which I told you he usually gets his living。
The MILLER'S…THUMB； or BULL…HEAD； is a fish of no pleasing
shape。 He is by Gesner compared to the Sea…toad…fish； for his similitude
and shape。 It has a head big and flat； much greater than suitable to his
body； a mouth very wide； and usually gaping； he is without teeth； but his
lips are very rough； much like to a file。 He hath two fins near to his gills；
which be roundish or crested； two fins also under the belly； two on the
back； one below the vent； and the fin of his tail is round。 Nature hath
painted the body of this fish with whitish； blackish； brownish spots。 They
be usually full of eggs or spawn all the summer； I mean the females； and
those eggs swell their vents almost into the form of a dug They begin to
spawn about April； and； as I told you； spawn several months in the
summer。 And in the winter； the Minnow； and Loach； and Bull…head dwell
in the mud； as the Eel doth； or we know not where； no more than we know
where the cuckoo and swallow； and other half…year birds； which first
appear to us in April； spend their six cold； winter； melancholy months。
This BULL…HEAD does usually dwell； and hide himself； in holes； or
amongst stones in clear water； and in very hot days will lie a long time
very still； and sun himself； and will be easy to be seen upon any flat stone；
or any gravel； at which time he will suffer an angler to put a hook； baited
with a small worm； very near unto his very mouth： and he never refuses to
bite； nor indeed to be caught with the worst of anglers。 Matthiolus
commends him much more for his taste and nourishment； than for his
shape or beauty。
There is also a little fish called a STICKLEBAG； a fish without scales；
but hath his body fenced with several prickles。 I know not where he dwells
in winter； nor what he is good for in summer； but only to make sport for
boys and women…anglers； and to feed other fish that be fish of prey； as
Trouts in particular； who will bite at him as at a Penk； and better； if your
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hook be rightly baited with him； for he may be so baited as； his tail turning
like the sail of a wind…mill； will make him turn more quick than any Penk
or Minnow can。 For note； that the nimble turning of that； or the Minnow is
the perfection of Minnow…fishing。 To which end； if you put your hook into
his mouth； and out at his tail； and then； having first tied him with white
thread a little above his tail； and placed him after such a manner on your
hook as he is like to turn then sew up his mouth to your line； and he is like
to turn quick； and tempt any Trout： but if he does not turn quick； then turn
his tail； a little more or less； towards the inner part； or towards the side of
the hook； or put the Minnow or Sticklebag a little more crooked or more
straight on your hook； until it will turn both true and fast； and then doubt
not but to tempt any great Trout that lies in a swift stream。 And the Loach
that I told you of will do the like： no bait is more tempting； provided the
Loach be not too big。
And now； scholar； with the help of this fine morning； and your patient
attention； I have said all that my present memory will afford me；
concerning most of the several fish that are usually fished for in fresh
waters。
Venator。 But； master； you have by your former civility made me hope
that you will make good your promise； and say something of the several
rivers that be of most note in this nation； and also of fish…ponds； and the
ordering of them： and do it I pray； good master； for I love any discourse of
rivers； and fish and fishing； the time spent in such discourse passes away
very pleasantly
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The FIFTH day…continued
Of Rivers； and some Observations of Fish
Chapter XIX
Piscator
WELL； scholar； since the ways and weather do both favour us； and
that we yet see not 'Tottenham…Cross； you shall see my willingness to
satisfy your desire。 And； first； for the rivers of this nation： there be； as you
