The Complete Angler 1653 Part 9

[Ill.u.s.tration of a Carp]

And my first directon is, that if you will fish for a _Carp_, you must put on a very large measure of patience, especially to fish for a River _Carp_: I have knowne a very good Fisher angle diligently four or six hours in a day, for three or four dayes together for a River _Carp_, and not have a bite: and you are to note, that in some Ponds it is as hard to catch a _Carp_ as in a River; that is to say, where they have store of feed, & the water is of a clayish colour; but you are to remember, that I have told you there is no rule without an exception, and therefore being possest with that hope and patience which I wish to all Fishers, especially to the _Carp-Angler_, I shall tell you with what bait to fish for him; but that must be either early or late, and let me tell you, that in hot weather (for he will seldome bite in cold) you cannot bee too early or too late at it.

The _Carp_ bites either at wormes or at Paste; and of worms I think the blewish Marsh or Meadow worm is best; but possibly another worm not too big may do as well, and so may a Gentle: and as for Pastes, there are almost as many sorts as there are Medicines for the Toothach, but doubtless sweet Pastes are best; I mean, Pastes mixt with honey, or with Sugar; which, that you may the better beguile this crafty fish, should be thrown into the Pond or place in which you fish for him some hours before you undertake your tryal of skil by the Angle-Rod: and doubtless, if it be thrown into the water a day or two before, at several times, and in smal pellets, you are the likelier when you fish for the _Carp_, to obtain your desired sport: or in a large Pond, to draw them to any certain place, that they may the better and with more hope be fished for: you are to throw into it, in some certaine place, either grains, or bloud mixt with Cow-dung, or with bran; or any Garbage, as Chickens guts or the like, and then some of your smal sweet pellets, with which you purpose to angle; these smal pellets, being few of them thrown in as you are Angling.

And your Paste must bee thus made: Take the flesh of a Rabet or Cat cut smal, and Bean-flower, or (if not easily got then) other flowre, and then mix these together, and put to them either Sugar, or Honey, which I think better, and then beat these together in a Mortar; or sometimes work them in your hands, (your hands being very clean) and then make it into a ball, or two, or three, as you like best for your use: but you must work or pound it so long in the Mortar, as to make it so tough as to hang upon your hook without washing from it, yet not too hard; or that you may the better keep it on your hook, you may kneade with your Paste a little (and not much) white or yellowish wool.

And if you would have this Paste keep all the year for any other fish, then mix with it _Virgins-wax_ and _clarified honey_, and work them together with your hands before the fire; then make these into b.a.l.l.s, and it will keep all the yeer.

And if you fish for a _Carp_ with Gentles, then put upon your hook a small piece of Scarlet about this bigness {breadth of two letters}, it being soked in, or anointed with _Oyl of Peter_, called by some, _Oyl of the Rock_; and if your Gentles be put two or three dayes before into a box or horn anointed with Honey, and so put upon your hook, as to preserve them to be living, you are as like to kill this craftie fish this way as any other; but still as you are fishing, chaw a little white or brown bread in your mouth, and cast it into the Pond about the place where your flote swims. Other baits there be, but these with diligence, and patient watchfulness, will do it as well as any as I have ever practised, or heard of: and yet I shall tell you, that the crumbs of white bread and honey made into a Paste, is a good bait for a _Carp_, and you know it is more easily made. And having said thus much of the _Carp_, my next discourse shal be of the _Bream_, which shall not prove so tedious, and therefore I desire the continuance of your attention.

CHAP. IX.

_Pisc_. The _Bream_ being at a full growth, is a large and stately fish, he will breed both in Rivers and Ponds, but loves best to live in Ponds, where, if he likes the aire, he will grow not only to be very large, but as fat as a Hog: he is by _Gesner_ taken to be more pleasant or sweet then wholesome; this fish is long in growing, but breeds exceedingly in a water that pleases him, yea, in many Ponds so fast, as to over store them, and starve the other fish.

The Baits good for to catch the _Bream_ are many; as namely, young Wasps, and a Paste made of brown bread and honey, or Gentels, or especially a worm, a worm that is not much unlike a Magot, which you will find at the roots of _Docks_, or of _Flags_, or of _Rushes_ that grow in the water, or watry places, and a _Grashopper_ having his legs nip'd off, or a flye that is in _June_ and _July_ to be found amongst the green Reed, growing by the water side, those are said to bee excellent baits. I doubt not but there be many others that both the _Bream_ and the _Carp_ also would bite at; but these time and experience will teach you how to find out: And so having according to my promise given you these short Observations concerning the _Bream_, I shall also give you some Observations concerning the _Tench_, and those also very briefly.

The _Tench_ is observed to love to live in Ponds; but if he be in a River, then in the still places of the River, he is observed to be a Physician to other fishes, and is so called by many that have been searchers into the nature of fish; and it is said, that a _Pike_ will neither devour nor hurt him, because the _Pike_ being sick or hurt by any accident, is cured by touching the _Tench_, and the _Tench_ does the like to other fishes, either by touching them, or by being in their company.

_Randelitius_ sayes in his discourse of fishes (quoted by _Gesner_) that at his being at _Rome_, he saw certaine Jewes apply _Tenches_ to the feet of a sick man for a cure; and it is observed, that many of those people have many Secrets unknown to Christians, secrets which have never been written, but have been successsively since the dayes of Solomon (who knew the nature of all things from the Shrub to the Cedar) delivered by tradition from the father to the son, and so from generation to generation without writing, or (unless it were casually) without the least communicating them to any other Nation or Tribe (for to do so, they account a profanation): yet this fish, that does by a natural inbred Balsome, not only cure himselfe if he be wounded, but others also, loves not to live in clear streams paved with gravel, but in standing waters, where mud and the worst of weeds abound, and therefore it is, I think, that this _Tench_ is by so many accounted better for Medicines then for meat: but for the first, I am able to say little; and for the later, can say positively, that he eats pleasantly; and will therefore give you a few, and but a few directions how to catch him.

[Ill.u.s.tration of a Tench]

He will bite at a Paste made of brown bread and honey, or at a Marsh-worm, or a Lob-worm; he will bite also at a smaller worm, with his head nip'd off, and a Cod-worm put on the hook before the worm; and I doubt not but that he will also in the three hot months (for in the nine colder he stirs not much) bite at a Flag-worm, or at a green Gentle, but can positively say no more of the _Tench_, he being a fish that I have not often Angled for; but I wish my honest Scholer may, and be ever fortunate when hee fishes.

_Viat_. I thank you good Master: but I pray Sir, since you see it still rains _May_ b.u.t.ter, give me some observations and directions concerning the _Pearch_, for they say he is both a very good and a bold biting fish, and I would faine learne to fish for him.

_Pisc_. You say true, Scholer, the _Pearch_ is a very good, and a very bold biting fish, he is one of the fishes of prey, that, like the _Pike_ and _Trout_, carries his teeth in his mouth, not in his throat, and dare venture to kill and devour another fish; this fish, and the _Pike_ are (sayes _Gesner_) the best of fresh water fish; he Sp.a.w.ns but once a year, and is by Physicians held very nutritive; yet by many to be hard of digestion: They abound more in the River _Poe_, and in _England_, (sayes _Randelitius_) then other parts, and have in their brain a stone, which is in forrain parts sold by Apothecaries, being there noted to be very medicinable against the stone in the reins: These be a part of the commendations which some Philosophycal brain have bestowed upon the fresh-water _Pearch_, yet they commend the _Sea Pearch_, which is known by having but one fin on his back, (of which they say, we _English_ see but a few) to be a much better fish.

The _Pearch_ grows slowly, yet will grow, as I have been credibly informed, to be almost two foot long; for my Informer told me, such a one was not long since taken by Sir _Abraham Williams_, a Gentleman of worth, and a lover of Angling, that yet lives, and I wish he may: this was a deep bodied fish; and doubtless durst have devoured a _Pike_ of half his own length; for I have told you, he is a bold fish, such a one, as but for extreme hunger, the _Pike_ will not devour; for to affright the _Pike_, the _Pearch_ will set up his fins, much like as a _Turkie-c.o.c.k_ wil sometimes set up his tail.

But, my Scholer, the _Pearch_ is not only valiant to defend himself, but he is (as you said) a bold biting fish, yet he will not bite at all seasons of the yeer; he is very abstemious in Winter; and hath been observed by some, not usually to bite till the _Mulberry tree_ buds, that is to say, till extreme Frosts be past for that Spring; for when the _Mulberry tree_ blossomes, many Gardners observe their forward fruit to be past the danger of Frosts, and some have made the like observation of the _Pearches_ biting.

[Ill.u.s.tration of a Pearch]

But bite the _Pearch_ will, and that very boldly, and as one has wittily observed, if there be twentie or fortie in a hole, they may be at one standing all catch'd one after another; they being, as he saies, like the wicked of the world, not afraid, though their fellowes and companions perish in their sight. And the baits for this bold fish are not many; I mean, he will bite as well at some, or at any of these three, as at any or all others whatsoever; a _Worm_, a _Minnow_, or a little _Frog_ (of which you may find many in hay time) and of _worms_, the Dunghill worm, called a _brandling_, I take to be best, being well scowred in Moss or Fennel; and if you fish for a _Pearch_ with a _Minnow_, then it is best to be alive, you sticking your hook through his back fin, and letting him swim up and down about mid-water, or a little lower, and you still keeping him to about that depth, by a Cork, which ought not to be a very light one: and the like way you are to fish for the _Pearch_ with a small _Frog_, your hook being fastened through the skin of his leg, towards the upper part of it: And lastly, I will give you but this advise, that you give the _Pearch_ time enough when he bites, for there was sca.r.s.e ever any _Angler_ that has given him too much. And now I think best to rest my selfe, for I have almost spent my spirits with talking so long.

_Viat_. Nay, good Master, one fish more, for you see it rains still, and you know our Angles are like money put to usury; they may thrive though we sit still and do nothing, but talk & enjoy one another. Come, come the other fish, good Master.

_Pisc_. But Scholer, have you nothing to mix with this Discourse, which now grows both tedious and tiresome? Shall I have nothing from you that seems to have both a good memorie, and a cheerful Spirit?

_Viat_. Yes, Master, I will speak you a Coppie of Verses that were made by Doctor _Donne_, and made to shew the world that hee could make soft and smooth Verses, when he thought them fit and worth his labour; and I love them the better, because they allude to Rivers, and fish, and fishing. They bee these:

_Come live with me, and be my love, And we will some new pleasures prove, Of golden sands, and Christal brooks, With silken lines and silver hooks.

There will the River wispering run, Warm'd by thy eyes more then the Sun; And there th'inamel'd fish wil stay, Begging themselves they may betray.

When thou wilt swim in that live bath, Each fish, which every channel hath Most amorously to thee will swim, Gladder to catch thee, then thou him.

If thou, to be so seen, beest loath By Sun or Moon, thou darknest both; And, if mine eyes have leave to see, I need not their light, having thee.

Let others freeze with Angling Reeds, And cut their legs with shels & weeds, Or treacherously poor fish beset, With strangling snares, or windowy net.

Let coa.r.s.e bold hands, from slimy nest, The bedded fish in banks outwrest, Let curious Traitors sleave silk flies, To 'witch poor wandring fishes eyes.

For thee, thou needst no such deceit, For thou thy self art thine own bait; Tha fish that is not catch'd thereby, Is wiser far, alas, then I_.

_Pisc_. Well remembred, honest Scholer, I thank you for these choice Verses, which I have heard formerly, but had quite forgot, till they were recovered by your happie memorie. Well, being I have now rested my self a little, I will make you some requital, by telling you some observations of the _Eele_, for it rains still, and (as you say) our Angles are as money put to use, that thrive when we play.

CHAP. X.

It is agreed by most men, that the _Eele_ is both a good and a most daintie fish; but most men differ about his breeding; some say, they breed by generation as other fish do; and others, that they breed (as some worms do) out of the putrifaction of the earth, and divers other waies; those that denie them to breed by generation, as other fish do, ask, if any man ever saw an _Eel_ to have Sp.a.w.n or Melt? And they are answered, That they may be as certain of their breeding, as if they had seen Sp.a.w.n; for they say, that they are certain that _Eeles_ have all parts fit for generation, like other fish, but so smal as not to be easily discerned, by reason of their fatness; but that discerned they may be; and that the Hee and the She _Eele_ may be distinguished by their fins.

And others say, that _Eeles_ growing old, breed other _Eeles_ out of the corruption of their own age, which Sir _Francis Bacon_ sayes, exceeds not ten years. And others say, that _Eeles_ 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 dayes is by the Suns heat turned into _Eeles_. I have seen in the beginning of _July_, in a River not far from _Canterbury_, some parts of it covered over with young _Eeles_ about the thickness of a straw; and these _Eeles_ did lye 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_, and in a _pond_ or _Mere_ in _Stafford-shire_, where about a set time in Summer, such small _Eeles_ abound so much, that many of the poorer sort of people, that inhabit near to it, take such _Eeles_ out of this Mere, with sieves or sheets, and make a kind of _Eele-cake_ of them, and eat it like as bread. And _Gesner_ quotes venerable _Bede_ to say, that in _England_ there is an Iland called _Ely_, by reason of the innumerable number of _Eeles_ that breed in it.

But that _Eeles_ 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 Suns heat and the rotten planks of an old Ship, and hatched of trees, both which are related for truths by _Dubartas_, and our learned _Cambden_, and laborious _Gerrard_ in his _Herball_.

It is said by _Randelitius_, that those _Eeles_ that are bred in Rivers, that relate to, or be neer to the Sea, never return to the fresh waters (as the _Salmon_ does alwaies 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 Bief is a most excellent bait to catch an _Eele_: and S'r. _Francis Bacon_ will allow the _Eeles_ 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 three score yeers; and that such useful and pleasant observations were made of this _Lamprey_, that _Cra.s.sus_ the Oratour (who kept her) lamented her death.

It is granted by all, or most men, that _Eeles_, for about six months (that is to say, the six cold months of the yeer) stir not up and down, neither in the Rivers nor the Pools in which they are, but get into the soft earth or mud, and there many of them together bed themselves, and live without feeding upon any thing (as I have told you some _Swallows_ have been observed to do in hollow trees for those six cold months); and this the _Eele_ and _Swallow_ do, as not being able to endure winter weather; for _Gesner_ quotes _Albertus_ to say, that in the yeer 1125 (that years winter being more cold then usual) _Eeles_ did by natures instinct get out of the water into a stack of hay in a Meadow upon dry ground, and there bedded themselves, but yet at last died there. I shall say no more of the _Eele_, but that, as it is observed, he is impatient of cold, so it has been observed, that in warm weather an _Eele_ 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 _Eeles_, as the _Silver-Eele_, and green or greenish _Eel_ (with which the River of Thames abounds, and are called _Gregs_); and a blackish _Eele_, whose head is more flat and bigger then ordinary _Eeles_; and also an _Eele_ whose fins are redish, and but seldome taken in this Nation (and yet taken sometimes): These several kinds of _Eeles_, are (say some) diversly bred; as namely, out of the corruption of the earth, and by dew, and other wayes (as I have said to you:) and yet it is affirmed by some, that for a certain, the _Silver-Eele_ breeds by generation, but not by Sp.a.w.ning as other fish do, but that her Brood come alive from her no bigger nor longer then a pin, and I have had too many testimonies of this to doubt the truth of it.

And this _Eele_ of which I have said so much to you, may be caught with divers kinds of baits; as namely, with powdered Bief, with a _Lob_ or _Garden-worm_, with a _Minnow_, or gut of a _Hen, Chicken_, or with almost any thing, for he is a greedy fish: but the _Eele_ seldome stirs in the day, but then hides himselfe, and therefore he is usually caught by night, with one of these baits of which I have spoken, and then caught by laying hooks, which you are to fasten to the bank, or twigs of a tree; or by throwing a string cross the stream, with many hooks at it, and baited with the foresaid baits, and a clod or plummet, or stone, thrown into the River with this line, that so you may in the morning find it neer to some fixt place, and then take it up with a drag-hook or otherwise: but these things are indeed too common to be spoken of; and an hours fishing with any _Angler_ will teach you better, both for these, and many other common things in the practical part of _Angling_, then a weeks discourse. I shall therefore conclude this direction for taking the _Eele_, by telling you, that in a warm day in Summer, I have taken many a good _Eele_ by _snigling_, and have been much pleased with that sport.

And because you that are but a young Angler, know not what _snigling_ is, I wil now teach it to you: you remember I told you that _Eeles_ do not usually stir in the day time, for then they hide themselvs under some covert, or under boards, or planks about Floud-gates, or Weirs, or Mils, or in holes in the River banks; and you observing your time in a warm day, when the water is lowest, may take a hook tied to a strong line, or to a string about a yard long, and then into one of these holes, or between any boards about a Mill, or under any great stone or plank, or any place where you think an _Eele_ may hide or shelter her selfe, there with the help of a short stick put in your bait, but leisurely, and as far as you may conveniently; and it is scarce to be doubted, but that if there be an Eel within the sight of it, the _Eele_ will bite instantly, and as certainly gorge it; and you need not doubt to have him, if you pull him not out of the hole too quickly, but pull him out by degrees, for he lying folded double in his hole, will, with the help of his taile, break all, unless you give him time to be wearied with pulling, and so get him out by degrees; not pulling too hard. And thus much for this present time concerning the _Eele_: I wil next tel you a little of the _Barbell_, and hope with a little discourse of him, to have an end of this showr, and fal to fishing, for the weather clears up a little.

CHAP. XI.

_Pisc_. The _Barbell_, is so called (sayes _Gesner_) from or by reason of his beard, or wattles at his mouth, his mouth being under his nose or chaps, and he is one of the leather mouthed fish that has his teeth in his throat, he loves to live in very swift streams, and where it is gravelly, and in the gravel will root or dig with his nose like a Hog, and there nest himself, taking so fast hold of any weeds or moss that grows on stones, or on piles about _Weirs_, or _Floud-gates_, or _Bridges_, that the water is not able, be it never so swift, to force him from the place which he seems to contend for: this is his constant custome in Summer, when both he, and most living creatures joy and sport themselves in the Sun; but at the approach of Winter, then he forsakes the swift streams and shallow waters, and by degrees retires to those parts of the River that are quiet and deeper; in which places, (and I think about that time) he Sp.a.w.ns; and as I have formerly told you, with the help of the Melter, hides his Sp.a.w.n or eggs in holes, which they both dig in the gravel, and then they mutually labour to cover it with the same sand to prevent it from being devoured by other fish.

There be such store of this fish in the River _Danubie_, that _Randelitius_ sayes, they may in some places of it, and in some months of the yeer, be taken by those that dwel neer to the River, with their hands, eight or ten load at a time; he sayes, they begin to be good in _May_, and that they cease to be so in _August_; but it is found to be otherwise in this Nation: but thus far we agree with him, that the Sp.a.w.ne of a _Barbell_ is, if be not poison, as he sayes, yet that it is dangerous meat, and especially in the month of _May_; and _Gesner_ declares, it had an ill effect upon him, to the indangering of his life.

[Ill.u.s.tration of a Barbell]

This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape, and may be rather said not to be ill, then to bee good meat; the _Chub_ and he have (I think) both lost a part of their credit by ill Cookery, they being reputed the worst or coa.r.s.est of fresh water fish: but the _Barbell_ affords an _Angler_ choice sport, being a l.u.s.tie and a cunning fish; so l.u.s.tie and cunning as to endanger the breaking of the Anglers line, by running his head forcibly towards any covert or hole, or bank, and then striking at the line, to break it off with his tail (as is observed by _Plutark_, in his book _De industria animalium_) and also so cunning to nibble and suck off your worme close to the hook, and yet avoid the letting the hook come into his mouth.

The _Barbell_ is also curious for his baits, that is to say, that they be clean and sweet; that is to say, to have your worms well scowred, and not kept in sowre or mustie moss; for at a well scowred Lob-worm, he will bite as boldly as at any bait, especially, if the night or two before you fish for him, you shall bait the places where you intend to fish for him with big worms cut into pieces; and Gentles (not being too much scowred, but green) are a choice bait for him, and so is cheese, which is not to be too hard, but kept a day or two in a wet linnen cloth to make it tough; with this you may also bait the water a day or two before you fish for the _Barbel_, and be much the likelier to catch store; and if the cheese were laid in clarified honey a short time before (as namely, an hour or two) you were still the likelier to catch fish; some have directed to cut the cheese into thin pieces, and toste it, and then tye it on the hook with fine Silk: and some advise to fish for the _Barbell_ with Sheeps tallow and soft cheese beaten or work'd into a Paste, and that it is choicely good in _August_; and I believe it: but doubtless the Lob-worm well scoured, and the Gentle not too much scowred, and cheese ordered as I have directed, are baits enough, and I think will serve in any Month; though I shall commend any Angler that tryes conclusions, and is industrious to improve the Art. And now, my honest Scholer, the long showre, and my tedious discourse are both ended together; and I shall give you but this Observation, That when you fish for a _Barbell_, your Rod and Line be both long, and of good strength, for you will find him a heavy and a doged fish to be dealt withal, yet he seldom or never breaks his hold if he be once strucken.