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the sea hath altered him to another colour or kind； I am not able to say； but
I am certain he hath all the signs of being a Trout； both for his shape；
colour； and spots； and yet many think he is not。
Venator。 But； master； will this Trout which I had hold of die ？ for it is
like he hath the hook in his belly。
Piscator。 I will tell you； scholar； that unless the hook be fast in his very
gorge； 'tis more than probable he will live； and a little time； with the help
of the water； will rust the hook； and it will in time wear away； as the gravel
doth in the horse…hoof； which only leaves a false quarter。
And now； scholar； let's go to my rod。 Look you； scholar； I have a fish
too； but it proves a logger…headed Chub： and this is not much amiss； for
this will pleasure some poor body； as we go to our lodging to meet our
brother Peter and honest Coridon。 Come； now bait your hook again； and
lay it into the water； for it rains again； and we will even retire to the
Sycamore…tree； and there I will give you more directions concerning
fishing； for I would fain make you an artist。
Venator。 Yes； good master； I pray let it be so。
Piscator。 Well； scholar； now that we are sate down and are at ease； I
shall tell you a little more of Trout…fishing； before I speak of the Salmon；
which I purpose shall be next； and then of the Pike or Luce。
You are to know； there is night as well as day fishing for a Trout； and
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that； in the night； the best Trouts come out of their holes。 And the manner
of taking them is on the top of the water with a great lob or garden…worm；
or rather two； which you are to fish with in a stream where the waters run
somewhat quietly； for in a stream the bait will not be so well discerned。 I
say； in a quiet or dead place； near to some swift； there draw your bait over
the top of the water； to and fro； and if there be a good Trout in the hole； he
will take it； especially if the night be dark； for then he is bold； and lies near
the top of the water； watching the motion of any frog or water…rat； or
mouse； that swims betwixt him and the sky； these he hunts after； if he sees
the water but wrinkle or move in one of these dead holes； where these
great old Trouts usually lie； near to their holds； for you are to note； that the
great old Trout is both subtle and fearful； and lies close all day； and does
not usually stir out of his hold； but lies in it as close in the day as the
timorous hare does in her form； for the chief feeding of either is seldom in
the day； but usually in the night； and then the great Trout feeds very
boldly。
And you must fish for him with a strong line； and not a little hook； and
let him have time to gorge your hook； for he does not usually forsake it； as
he oft will in the day…fishing。 And if the night be not dark； then fish so
with an artificial fly of a light colour； and at the snap： nay； he will
sometimes rise at a dead mouse； or a piece of cloth； or anything that seems
to swim across the water； or to be in motion。 This is a choice way； but I
have not oft used it； because it is void of the pleasures that such days as
these； that we two now enjoy； afford an angler
And you are to know； that in Hampshire； which I think exceeds all
England for swift； shallow； clear； pleasant brooks； and store of Trouts； they
used to catch Trouts in the night； by the light of a torch or straw； which；
when they have discovered； they strike with a Trout…spear； or other ways。
This kind of way they catch very many： but I would not believe it till I was
an eye…witness of it； nor do I like it now I have seen it。
Venator。 But； master； do not Trouts see us in the night？
Piscator Yes； and hear； and smell too； both then and in the day…time：
for Gesner observes； the Otter smells a fish forty furlongs off him in the
water： and that it may be true； seems to be affirmed by Sir Francis Bacon；
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in the eighth century of his Natural History； who there proves that waters
may be the medium of sounds； by demonstrating it thus： 〃 That if you
knock two stones together very deep under the water； those that stand on a
bank near to that place may hear the noise without any diminution of it by
the water 〃 。 He also offers the like experiment concerning the letting an
anchor fall； by a very long cable or rope； on a rock； or the sand； within the
sea。 And this being so well observed and demonstrated as it is by that
learned man； has made me to believe that Eels unbed themselves and stir
at the noise of thunder； and not only； as some think； by the motion or
stirring of the earth which is occasioned by that thunder。
And this reason of Sir Francis Bacon has made me crave pardon of one
that I laughed at for affirming that he knew Carps come to a certain place；
in a pond； to be fed at the ringing of a bell or the beating of a drum。 And；
however； it shall be a rule for me to make as little noise as I can when I am
fishing； until Sir Francis Bacon be confuted； which I shall give any man
leave to do。
And lest you may think him singular in this opinion； I will tell you；
this seems to be believed by our learned Doctor Hakewill； who in his
Apology of God's power and providence； quotes Pliny to report that one of
the emperors had particular fish…ponds； and； in them； several fish that
appeared and came when they were called by their particular names。 And
St。 James tells us； that all things in the sea have been tamed by mankind。
And Pliny tells us； that Antonia； the wife of Drusus； had a Lamprey at
whose gills she hung jewels or ear…rings； and that others have been so
tender…hearted as to shed tears at the death of fishes which they have kept
and loved。 And these observations； which will to most hearers seem
wonderful； seem to have a further confirmation from Martial； who writes
thus：…
Piscator； fuge； ne nocens； etc。
Angler ！ would'st thou be guiltless ？ then forbear； For these are sacred
fishes that swim here； Who know their sovereign； and will lick his hand；
Than which none's greater in the world's command； Nay more they've
names； and； when they called are； Do to their several owner's call repair。
All the furt