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clayish colour。 But you are to remember that I have told you there is no
rule without an exception； and therefore being possess 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 first you are to know； that it
must be either early； or late； and let me tell you； that in hot weather； for he
will seldom bite in cold； you cannot be too early； or too late at it。 And
some have been so curious as to say； the tenth of April is a fatal day for
Carps。
The Carp bites either at worms； or at paste： and of worms I think the
bluish marsh or meadow worm is best； but possibly another worm； not too
big； may do as well； and so may a green gentle： and as for pastes； there are
almost as many sorts as there are medicines for the toothache； but
doubtless sweet pastes are best； I mean； pastes made 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； or
longer； before you undertake your trial of skill with the angle…rod； and
doubtless； if it be thrown into the water a day or two before； at several
times； and in small 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 certain place； either grains； or blood mixt
with cow…dung or with bran； or any garbage； as chicken's guts or the like；
and then； some of your small sweet pellets with which you propose to
angle： and these small pellets being a few of them also thrown in as you
are angling； will be the better。
And your paste must be thus made： take the flesh of a rabbit； or cat；
cut small； and bean…flour； and if that may not be easily got； get other flour；
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
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keep it on your hook； you may knead with your paste a little； and not too
much； white or yellowish wool。
And if you would have this paste keep all the year； for any other fish；
then mix with it virgin…wax and clarified honey； and work them together
with your hands； before the fire； then make these into balls； and they will
keep all the year。
And if you fish for a Carp with gentles； then put upon your hook a
small piece of scarlet about this bigness； it being soaked in or anointed
with oil of petre； called by some； oil of the rock： and if your gentles be put；
two or three days 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 crafty fish this way as any other： but still； as you are fishing； chew a
little white or brown bread in your mouth； and cast it into the pond about
the place where your float swims。 Other baits there be； but these； with
diligence and patient watchfulness； will do better than any that I have ever
practiced 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 shall be of the Bream； which shall not prove so tedious； and
therefore I desire the continuance of your attention。
But； first； I will tell you how to make this Carp； that is so curious to be
caught； so curious a dish of meat as shall make him worth all your labour
and patience。 And though it is not without some trouble and charges； yet it
will recompense both。
Take a Carp； alive if possible； scour him； and rub him clean with water
and salt； but scale him not： then open him； and put him； with his blood and
his liver； which you must save when you open him； into a small pot or
kettle： then take sweet marjoram； thyme； and parsley； of each half a
handful； a sprig of rosemary； and another of savoury； bind them into two
or three small bundles； and put them in your Carp； with four or five whole
onions； twenty pickled oysters； and three anchovies。 Then pour upon your
Carp as much claret wine as will only cover him； and season your claret
well with salt； cloves； and mace； and the rinds of oranges and lemons。
That done； cover your pot and set it on a quick fire till it be sufficiently
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boiled。 Then take out the Carp； and lay it； with the broth； into the dish； and
pour upon it a quarter of a pound of the best fresh butter； melted； and
beaten with half a dozen spoonfuls of the broth； the yolks of two or three
eggs； and some of the herbs shred： garnish your dish with lemons； and so
serve it up。 And much good do you！ Dr。 T。
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The fourth day…continued
On the Bream
Chapter X
Piscator
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； and where；
if he likes the water and air； 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； than
wholesome。 This fish is long in growing； but breeds exceedingly in a
water that pleases him； yea； in many ponds so fast； as to overstore them；
and starve the other fish。
He is very broad； with a forked tail； and his scales set in excellent
order； he hath large eyes； and a narrow sucking mouth； he hath two sets of
teeth； and a lozenge…like bone； a bone to help his grinding。 The melter is
observed to have two large melts； and the female； two large bags of eggs
or spawn。