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antipathy betwixt the Pike and some frogs： and this may appear to the
reader of Dubravius； a bishop in Bohemia； who； in his book Of Fish and
Fish…ponds； relates what he says he saw with his own eyes； and could not
forbear to tell the reader。 Which was：
〃As he and the bishop Thurzo were walking by a large pond in
Bohemia； they saw a frog； when the Pike lay very sleepily and quiet by the
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shore side； leap upon his head； and the frog having expressed malice or
anger by his sworn cheeks and staring eyes； did stretch out his legs and
embrace the Pike's head； and presently reached them to his eyes； tearing
with them； and his teeth； those tender parts： the Pike； moved with anguish；
moves up and down the water； and rubs himself against weeds； and
whatever he thought might quit him of his enemy； but all in vain； for the
frog did continue to ride triumphantly； and to bite and torment the Pike till
his strength failed； and then the frog sunk with the Pike to the bottom of
the water： then presently the frog appeared again at the top； and croaked；
and seemed to rejoice like a conqueror； after which he presently retired to
his secret hole。 The bishop； that had beheld the battle； called his fisherman
to fetch his nets； and by all means to get the Pike that they might declare
what had happened： and the Pike was drawn forth； and both his eyes eaten
out； at which when they began to wonder； the fisherman wished them to
forbear； and assured them he was certain that Pikes were often so served。〃
I told this； which is to be read in the sixth chapter of the book of
Dubravius； unto a friend； who replied； 〃 It was as improbable as to have
the mouse scratch out the cat's eyes〃。 But he did not consider； that there be
Fishing frogs； which the Dalmatians call the Water…devil； of which I might
tell you as wonderful a story： but I shall tell you that 'tis not to be doubted
but that there be some frogs so fearful of the water…snake； that when they
swim in a place in which they fear to meet with him they then get a reed
across into their mouths； which if they two meet by accident； secures the
frog from the strength and malice of the snake； and note； that the frog
usually swims the fastest of the two。
And let me tell you； that as there be water and land frogs； so there be
land and water snakes。 Concerning which take this observation； that the
land…snake breeds and hatches her eggs； which become young snakes； in
some old dunghill； or a like hot place： but the water…snake； which is not
venomous； and as I have been assured by a great observer of such secrets；
does not hatch； but breed her young alive； which she does not then forsake；
but bides with them； and in case of danger will take them all into her
mouth and swim away from any apprehended danger； and then let them
out again when she thinks all danger to be past： these be accidents that we
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Anglers sometimes see； and often talk of。
But whither am I going ？ I had almost lost myself； by remembering the
discourse of Dubravius。 I will therefore stop here； and tell you； according
to my promise； how to catch this Pike。
His feeding is usually of fish or frogs； and sometimes a weed of his
own； called pickerel…weed； of which I told you some think Pikes are bred；
for they have observed； that where none have been put into ponds； yet they
have there found many； and that there has been plenty of that weed in
those ponds； and that that weed both breeds and feeds them： but whether
those Pikes； so bred； will ever breed by generation as the others do； I shall
leave to the disquisitions of men of more curiosity and leisure than I
profess myself to have： and shall proceed to tell you； that you may fish for
a Pike； either with a ledger or a walking…bait； and you are to note； that I
call that a Ledger…bait； which is fixed or made to rest in one certain place
when you shall be absent from it； and I call that a Walking…bait； which you
take with you； and have ever in motion。 Concerning which two； I shall
give you this direction； that your ledger… bait is best to be a living bait
（though a dead one may catch）； whether it be a fish or a frog： and that you
may make them live the longer； you may； or indeed you must； take this
course：
First； for your LIVE…BAIT。 Of fish； a roach or dace is； I think； best and
most tempting； and a perch is the longest lived on a hook； and having cut
off his fin on his back； which may be done without hurting him； you must
take your knife； which cannot be too sharp； and betwixt the head and the
fin on the back； cut or make an incision； or such a scar； as you may put the
arming…wire of your hook into it； with as little bruising or hurting the fish
as art and diligence will enable you to do； and so carrying your arming…
wire along his back； unto or near the tail of your fish； betwixt the skin and
the body of it； draw out that wire or arming of your hook at another scar
near to his ： the then tie him about it with thread； but no harder than of
necessity； to prevent hurting the fish； and the better to avoid hurting the
fish； some have a kind of probe to open the way for the more easy
entrance and passage of your wire or arming： but as for these； time and a
little experience will teach you better than I can by words。 Therefore I will
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for the present say no more of this； but come next to give you some
directions how to bait your hook with a frog。
Venator。 But； good master； did you not say even now； that some frogs
were venomous； and is it not dangerous to touch them ？
Piscator。 Yes； but I will give you some rules or cautions concerning
them。 And first you are to note； that there are two kinds of frogs； that is to
say； if I may so express myself； a flesh and fish frog。 By flesh…frogs； I
mean frogs that breed and live on the land； and of these there be several
sorts also； and of several colours； some being speckled； some greenish；
some blackish； or brown： the green frog； which is a small one； is； by
Topsel； taken to be venomous； and so is the paddock； or frog…paddock；
wh