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turpentine。 He will bite also at a minnow； or peek； as a Trout will： of
which I shall tell you more hereafter； and of divers other baits。 But take
this for a rule； that； in hot weather； he is to be fished for towards the mid…
water； or near the top； and in colder weather； nearer the bottom； and if you
fish for him on the top； with a beetle； or any fly； then be sure to let your
line be very long； and to keep out of sight。 And having told you； that his
spawn is excellent meat； and that the head of a large Cheven； the throat
being well washed； is the best part of him； I will say no more of this fish at
the present； but wish you may catch the next you fish for。
But； lest you may judge me too nice in urging to have the Chub
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dressed so presently after he is taken； I will commend to your
consideration how curious former times have been in the like kind。
You shall read in Seneca； his Natural Questions； that the ancients were
so curious in the newness of their fish； that that semed not new enough
that was not put alive into the guest's hand； and he says； that to that end
they did usually keep them living in glass bottles in their dining…rooms；
and they did glory much in their entertaining of friends； to have that fish
taken from under their table alive that was instantly to be fed upon； and he
says； they took great pleasure to see their Mullets change to several
colours when they were dying。 But enough of this； for I doubt I have staid
too long from giving you some Observations of the Trout； and how to fish
for him； which shall take up the next of my spare time。
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The third day … continued
On the Nature and Breeding of the Trout； and how to fish for him
Chapter IV
Piscator； Venator； Milk…woman； Maudlin； Hostess
Piscator。 The Trout is a fish highly valued； both in this and foreign
nations。 He may be justly said； as the old poet said of wine； and we
English say of venison； to be a generous fish： a fish that is so like the buck；
that he also has his seasons； for it is observed； that he comes in and goes
out of season with the stag and buck。 Gesner says； his name is of a
German offspring； and says he is a fish that feeds clean and purely； in the
swiftest streams； and on the hardest gravel； and that he may justly contend
with all fresh water fish； as the Mullet may with all sea fish； for
precedency and daintiness of taste； and that being in right season； the most
dainty palates have allowed precedency to him。
And before I go farther in my discourse； let me tell you； that you are to
observe； that as there be some barren does that are good in summer； so
there be some barren Trouts that are good in winter； but there are not many
that are so； for usually they be in their perfection in the month of May； and
decline with the buck。 Now you are to take notice； that in several countries；
as in Germany； and in other parts； compared to ours； fish do differ much in
their bigness； and shape； and other ways； and so do Trouts。 It is well
known that in the Lake Leman； the Lake of Geneva； there are Trouts taken
of three cubits long； as is affirmed by Gesner； a writer of good credit： and
Mercator says； the Trouts that are taken in the Lake of Geneva are a great
part of the merchandize of that famous city。 And you are further to know；
that there be certain waters that breed Trouts remarkable； both for their
number and smallness。 I know a little brook in Kent； that breeds them to a
number incredible； and you may take them twenty or forty in an hour； but
none greater than about the size of a Gudgeon。 There are also； in divers
rivers； especially that relate to； or be near to the sea； as Winchester； or the
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Thames about Windsor； a little Trout called a Samlet； or Skegger Trout； in
both which places I have caught twenty or forty at a standing； that will bite
as fast and as freely as Minnows： these be by some taken to be young
Salmons； but in those waters they never grow to be bigger than a Herring。
There is also in Kent； near to Canterbury； a Trout called there a
Fordidge Trout； a Trout that bears the name of the town where it is usually
caught； that is accounted the rarest of fish； many of them near the bigness
of a Salmon； but known by their different colour； and in their best season
they cut very white： and none of these have been known to be caught with
an angle； unless it were one that was caught by Sir George Hastings； an
excellent angler； and now with God： and he hath told me； he thought that
Trout bit not for hunger but wantonness； and it is the rather to be believed；
because both he； then； and many others before him； have been curious to
search into their bellies； what the food was by which they lived； and have
found out nothing by which they might satisfy their curiosity。
Concerning which you are to take notice； that it is reported by good
authors； that grasshoppers and some fish have no mouths； but are
nourished and take breath by the porousness of their gills； man knows not
how： and this may be believed； if we consider that when the raven hath
hatched her eggs； she takes no further care； but leaves her young ones to
the care of the God of nature； who is said； in the Psalms； 〃to feed the
young ravens that call upon him 〃。 And they be kept alive and fed by a
dew； or worms that breed in their nests； or some other ways that we
mortals know not。 And this may be believed of the Fordidge Trout； which；
as it is said of the stork； that he knows his season； so he knows his times； I
think almost his day of coming into that river out of the sea； where he
lives； and； it is like； feeds； nine months of the year； and fasts three in the
river of Fordidge。 And you are to note； that those townsmen are very
punctual in observing the time of beginning to fish for them； and boast
much； that their river affords a Trout that exceeds all others。 And just so
does Sussex boast of several fish； as； namely； a Shelsey Cockle； a
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