the compleat angler(垂钓大全)-第42节
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satisfy your desire。 And； first； for the rivers of this nation： there be； as you
may note out of Dr。 Heylin's Geography and others； in number three
hundred and twenty…five； but those of chiefest note he reckons and
describes as followeth。
The chief is THAMISIS； compounded of two rivers； Thame and Isis；
whereof the former； rising somewhat beyond Thame in Buckinghamshire；
and the latter near Cirencester in Gloucestershire； meet together about
Dorchester in Oxfordshire； the issue of which happy conjunction is
Thamisis； or Thames； hence it flieth betwixt Berks； Buckinghamshire；
Middlesex； Surrey； Kent and Essex： and so weddeth itself to the Kentish
Medway； in the very jaws of the ocean。 This glorious river feeleth the
violence and benefit of the sea more than any river in Europe； ebbing and
flowing； twice a day； more than sixty miles； about whose banks are so
many fair towns and princely palaces； that a German poet thus truly spake：
Tot campos； &c。 We saw so many woods and princely bowers； Sweet
fields； brave palaces； and stately towers； So many gardens drest with
curious care； That Thames with royal Tiber may compare。
2。 The second river of note is SABRINA or SEVERN： it hath its
beginning in Plinilimmon…hill； in Montgomeryshire； and his end seven
miles from Bristol； washing； in the mean space； the walls of Shrewsbury；
Worcester； and Gloucester； and divers other places and palaces of note。
3。 TRENT； so called from thirty kind of fishes that are found in it； or
for that it receiveth thirty lesser rivers； who having his fountain in
Staffordshire； and gliding through the counties of Nottingham； Lincoln；
Leicester； and York； augmenteth the turbulent current of Humber； the most
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violent stream of all the isle This Humber is not； to say truth； a distinct
river having a spring…head of his own； but it is rather the mouth or
aestuarium of divers rivers here confluent and meeting together； namely；
your Derwent； and especially of Ouse and Trent； and； as the Danow；
having received into its channel the river Dravus； Savus； Tibiscus； and
divers others； changeth his name into this of Humberabus； as the old
geographers call it。
4。 MEDWAY； a Kentish river； famous for harbouring the royal navy。
5。 TWEED； the north…east bound of England； on whose northern banks
is seated the strong and impregnable town of Berwick。
6。 TYNE； famous for Newcastle； and her inexhaustible coal…pits。
These； and the rest of principal note； are thus comprehended in one of Mr。
Drayton's Sonnets：
Our floods' queen； Thames； for ships and swans is crown'd And stately
Severn for her shore is prais'd； The crystal Trent； for fords and fish
renown'd； And Avon's fame to Albion's cliffs is rais'd。
Carlegion Chester vaunts her holy Dee； York many wonders of her
Ouse can tell； The Peak； her Dove； whose banks so fertile be； And Kent
will say her Medway doth excel：
Cotswold commends her Isis to the Tame： Our northern borders boast
of Tweed's fair flood； Our Western parts extol their Willy's fame； And the
old Lea brags of the Danish blood。
These observations are out of learned Dr。 Heylin； and my old deceased
friend； Michael Drayton； and because you say you love such discourses as
these； of rivers； and fish； and fishing； I love you the better； and love the
more to impart them to you。 Nevertheless； scholar； if I should begin but to
name the several sorts of strange fish that are usually taken in many of
those rivers that run into the sea； I might beget wonder in you； or unbelief；
or both： and yet I will venture to tell you a real truth concerning one lately
dissected by Dr。 Wharton； a man of great learning and experience； and of
equal freedom to communicate it； one that loves me and my art； one to
whom I have been beholden for many of the choicest observations that I
have imparted to you。 This good man； that dares do anything rather than
tell an untruth； did； I say； tell me he had lately dissected one strange fish；
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and he thus described it to me：
〃This fish was almost a yard broad； and twice that length； his mouth
wide enough to receive； or take into it； the head of a man； his stomach；
seven or eight inches broad。 He is of a slow motion； and usually lies or
lurks close in the mud； and has a moveable string on his head； about a
span or near unto a quarter of a yard long； by the moving of which； which
is his natural bait； when he lies close and unseen in the mud； he draws
other smaller fish so close to him； that he can suck them into his mouth；
and so devours and digests them。〃
And； scholar； do not wonder at this； for besides the credit of the relator；
you are to note； many of these； and fishes which are of the like and more
unusual shapes； are very often taken on the mouths of our sea rivers； and
on the sea shore。 And this will be no wonder to any that have travelled
Egypt； where； 'tis known； the famous river Nilus does not only breed
fishes that yet want names； but； by the overflowing of that river； and the
help of the sun's heat on the fat slime which the river leaves on the banks
when it falls back into its natural channel； such strange fish and beasts are
also bred； that no man can give a name to； as Grotius in his Sopham； and
others； have observed。
But whither am I strayed in this discourse。 I will end it by telling you；
that at the mouth of some of these rivers of ours； Herrings are so plentiful；
as namely； near to Yarmouth in Norfolk； and in the west country Pilchers
so very plentiful； as you will wonder to read what our learned Camden
relates of them in his Britannia。
Well； scholar； I will stop here； and tell you what by reading and
conference I have observed concerning fish…ponds。
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The FIFTH day…continued
Of Fish…Ponds
Chapter XX
Piscator
DOCTOR LEBAULT； the learned Frenchman； in his large discourse of
Maison Rustique； gives this direction for making of fish…ponds。 I shall
refer you to him； to read it at large： but I think I shall contract it； and yet
make it as useful。
He adviseth； that when you have drained the ground； and made the
earth firm where the head of the pond must be； that you must then； in that
place； drive in two or three rows of oak or elm piles； which should be
scorched in the fire； or half…burnt； before they be driven into the earth； for
being thus used； it preserves them much longer from rotting。 And having
done so； lay faggots or bavins of smaller wood betwixt them： and then；
earth betwixt and above them： and then； having first very well rammed
them and the earth； use another pile in like manner as the first were： and
note； that the second pile is to be of or about the height that you intend to
make your sluice or floodgate； or the vent that you intend shall convey the
overflowings of your pond in any flood that shall endanger the breaking of
your pond…dam。
Then he advises； that you plant willows or owlers； about it； or both：
and then cast in bavins； in some places not far from the side； and in the
most sandy places； for fish both to spawn upon； and to defend them and
the young fry from the many fish； and also from vermin； that lie at watch
to destroy them； especially the spawn of the Carp and Tench； when 'tis left
to the mercy of ducks or vermin。
He； and Dubravius； and all others advise； that you make choice of such
a place for your pond； that it may be refreshed with a little rill； or with rain
water； running or falling into it； by which fish are more inclined both to
breed； and are also refreshed and fed the better； and do prove to be of a
much sweeter and more pleasant taste。
