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well at some； or at any of these three； as at any or all others whatsoever： a
worm； a minnow； or a little frog； of which you may find many in hay… time。
And of worms； the dunghill worm called a brandling I take to be best；
being well scoured in moss or fennel； or he will bite at a worm that lies
under cow…dung； with a bluish head。 And if you rove for a Perch with a
minnow； then it is best to be alive； you sticking your hook through his
back fin； or a minnow with the hook in his upper lip； and letting him swim
up and down； about mid…water； or a little lower； and you still keeping him
to about that depth by a cork； which ought not to be a very little one： and
the like way you are to fish for the Perch with a small frog； your hook
being fastened through the skin of his leg； towards the upper part of it： and；
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lastly； I will give you but this advice； that you give the Perch time enough
when he bites； for there was scarce ever any angler that has given him too
much。 And now I think best to rest myself； for I have almost spent my
spirits with talking so long。
Venator。 Nay； good master； one fish more； for you see it rains still： and
you know our angles are like money put to usury； they may thrive； though
we sit still； and do nothing but talk and enjoy one another。 Come； come；
the other fish； good master。
Piscator。 But； scholar； have you nothing to mix with this discourse；
which now grows both tedious and tiresome ？ Shall I have nothing from
you； that seem to have both a good memory and a cheerful spirit？
Venator。 Yes； master； I will speak you a copy of verses that were made
by Doctor Donne； and made to shew the world that he could make soft and
smooth verses； when he thought smoothness worth his labour： and I love
them the better； because they allude to Rivers； and Fish and Fishing。 They
be these：
Come； live with me； and be my love； And we will some new pleasures
prove； Of golden sands； and crystal brooks； With silken lines； and silver
hooks。
There will the river whisp'ring run； Warm'd by thy eyes more than the
sun And there the enamel'd fish will stay Begging themselves they may
betray。
When thou wilt swim in that live bath； Each fish； which every channel
hash； Most amorously to thee will swim； Gladder to catch thee。 than thou
him。
If thou； to be so seen； beest loath By sun or moon； thou dark'nest both；
And if mine eyes have leave to see； I need not their light； having thee；
Let others freeze with angling reeds； And cut their legs with shells and
weeds； Or treacherously poor fish beset With strangling snares or
windowy net；
Let coarse bold hands； from slimy nest； The bedded fish in banks
outwrest； Let curious traitors sleeve silk flies； To 'witch poor wand'ring
fishes' eyes。
For thee； thou need'st no such deceit； For thou thyself art shine own
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bait； That fish that is not catcht thereby； Is wiser afar； alas； than I。
Piscator。 Well remembered； honest scholar。 I thank you for these
choice verses； which I have heard formerly； but had quite forgot； till they
were recovered by your happy memory。 Well； being I have now rested
myself a little； I will make you some requital； by telling you some
observations of the Eel； for it rains still： and because； as you say； our
angles are as money put to use； that thrives when we play； therefore we'll
sit still； and enjoy ourselves a little longer under this honeysuckle hedge。
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The fourth day…continued
Of the Eel； and other Fish that want Scales
Chapter XIII
Piscator
It is agreed by most men； that the Eel is a most dainty fish： the
Romans have esteemed her the Helena of their feasts； and some the queen
of palate…pleasure。 But most men differ about their breeding： some say
they breed by generation； as other fish do； and others； that they breed； as
some worms do； of mud； as rats and mice； and many other living creatures；
are bred in Egypt； by the sun's heat when it shines upon the overflowing of
the river Nilus； or out of the putrefaction of the earth； and divers other
ways。 Those that deny them to breed by generation； as other fish do； ask；
If any man ever saw an Eel to have a spawn or melt ？ And they are
answered； That they may be as certain of their breeding as if they had seen
spawn； for they say； that they are certain that Eels have all parts fit for
generation； like other fish； but so small as not to be easily discerned； by
reason of their fatness； but that discerned they may be； and that the He and
the She Eel may be distinguished by their fins。 And Rondeletius says； he
has seen Eels cling together like dew…worms。
And others say； that Eels； growing old； breed other Eels out of the
corruption of their own age； which； Sir Francis Bacon says； exceeds not
ten years。 And others say； that as pearls are made of glutinous dewdrops；
which are condensed by the sun's heat in those countries； so Eels are bred
of a particular dew； falling in the months of May or June on the banks of
some particular ponds or rivers； apted by nature for that end； which in a
few clays are； by the sun's heat； turned into Eels： and some of the Ancients
have called the Eels that are thus bred； the offspring of Jove。 I have seen；
in the beginning of July； in a river not far from Canterbury； some parts of
it covered over with young Eels； about the thickness of a straw； and these
Eels did lie on the top of that water； as thick as motes are said to be in the
sun： and I have heard the like of other rivers； as namely； in Severn； where
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they are called Yelvers； and in a pond； or mere near unto Staffordshire；
where； about a set time in summer； such small Eels abound so much； that
many of the poorer sort of people that inhabit near to it； take such Eels out
of this mere with sieves or sheets；