按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Monmouthshire； where they be in season； as Camden observes； from
September till April。 But； my scholar； the observation of this and many
other things I must in manners omit； because they will prove too large for
our narrow compass of time； and； therefore； T shall next fall upon my
directions how to fish for this Salmon。
And； for that： First you shall observe； that usually he stays not long in
a place； as Trouts will； but； as I said； covets still to go nearer the spring…
89
… Page 90…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
head： and that he does not； as the Trout and many other fish； lie near the
water…side or bank； or roots of trees； but swims in the deep and broad parts
of the water； and usually in the middle； and near the ground； and that there
you are to fish for him； and that he is to be caught； as the Trout is； with a
worm； a minnow which some call a peek； or with a fly。
And you are to observe； that he is very seldom observed to bite at a
minnow； yet sometimes he will； and not usually at a fly； but more usually
at a worm； and then most usually at a lob or garden…worm； which should
be well scoured； that is to say； kept seven or eight days in moss before you
fish with them： and if you double your time of eight into sixteen； twenty；
or more days； it is still the better； for the worms will still be clearer；
tougher； and more lively； and continue so longer upon your hook。 And
they may be kept longer by keeping them cool； and in fresh moss； and
some advise to put camphire into it。
Note also； that many used to fish for a Salmon with a ring of wire on
the top of their rod； through which the line may run to as great a length as
is needful； when he is hooked。 And to that end； some use a wheel about the
middle of their rod； or near their hand； which is to be observed better by
seeing one of them than by a large demonstration of words。
And now I shall tell you that which may be called a secret。 I have been
a…fishing with old Oliver Henly； now with God； a noted fisher both for
Trout and Salmon； and have observed； that he would usually take three or
four worms out of his bag； and put them into a little box in his pocket；
where he would usually let them continue half an hour or more。 before he
would bait his hook with them。 I have asked him his reason； and he has
replied； 〃 He did but pick the best out to be in readiness against he baited
his hook the next time 〃： but he has been observed； both by others and
myself； to catch more fish than I； or any other body that has ever gone a…
fishing with him； could do； and especially Salmons。 And I have been told
lately； by one of his most intimate and secret friends； that the box in which
he put those worms was anointed with a drop； or two or three； of the oil of
ivy…berries； made by expression or infusion； and told； that by the worms
remaining in that box an hour； or a like time； they had incorporated a kind
of smell that was irresistibly attractive； enough to force any fish within the
90
… Page 91…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
smell of them to bite。 This I heard not long since from a friend； but have
not tried it； yet I grant it probable； and refer my reader to Sir Francis
Bacon's Natural history； where he proves fishes may hear； and； doubtless；
can more probably smell： and I am certain Gesner says； the Otter can
smell in the water； and I know not but that fish may do so too。 'Tis left for
a lover of angling； or any that desires to improve that art； to try this
conclusion。
I shall also impart two other experiments； but not tried by myself；
which I will deliver in the same words that they were given me by an
excellent angler and a very friend； in writing： he told me the latter was too
good to be told； but in a learned language； lest it should be made common。
〃Take the stinking oil drawn out of polypody of the oak by a retort；
mixed with turpentine and hive…honey； and anoint your bait therewith； and
it will doubtless draw the fish to it。〃 The other is this： 〃 Vulnera hederae
grandissimae inflicta sudant balsamum oleo gelato； albicantique persimile；
odoris vero longe suavissimi〃。 〃'Tis supremely sweet to any fish； and yet
assa foetida may do the like。〃
But in these I have no great faith； yet grant it probable； and have had
from some chymical men； namely； from Sir George Hastings and others；
an affirmation of them to be very advantageous。 But no more of these；
especially not in this place。
I might here； before I take my leave of the Salmon； tell you； that there
is more than one sort of them； as namely； a Tecon； and another called in
some places a Samlet； or by some a Skegger； but these； and others which I
forbear to name； may be fish of another kind； and differ as we know a
Herring and a Pilchard do； which； I think； are as different as the rivers in
which they breed； and must； by me； be left to the disquisitions of men of
more leisure； and of greater abilities than I profess myself to have。
And lastly； I am to borrow so much of your promised patience； as to
tell you； that the trout； or Salmon； being in season； have； at their first
taking out of the water； which continues during life； their bodies adorned；
the one with such red spots； and the other with such black or blackish
spots； as give them such an addition of natural beauty as； I think； was
never given to any woman by the artificial paint or patches in which they
91
… Page 92…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
so much pride themselves in this age。 And so I shall leave them both； and
proceed to some observations of the Pike。
92
… Page 93…
THE COMPLEAT ANGLER
The fourth day … continued
On the Luce or Pike
Chapter VIII
Piscator and Venator
Piscator。 The mighty Luce or Pike is taken to be the tyrant； as the
Salmon is the king； of the fresh water。 'Tis not to be doubted； but that they
are bred； some by generation； and some not； as namely； of a weed called
pickerel…weed； unless learned