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ballad； for she hath store of them： Maudlin； my honest Maudlin； hath a
notable memory； and she thinks nothing too good for you； because you be
such honest men。
Venator。 We thank you； and intend； once in a month to call upon you
again； and give you a little warning； and so； good…night Good…night；
Maudlin。 And now； good master； let's lose no time： but tell me somewhat
more of fishing； and if you please； first； something of fishing for a
Gudgeon。
Piscator。 I will； honest scholar。
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The fourth day…continued
Of the Gudgeon； the Ruffe； and the Bleak
Chapter XV
Piscator
The GUDGEON is reputed a fish of excellent taste； and to be very
wholesome。 He is of a fine shape； of a silver colour； and beautified with
black spots both on his body and tail。 He breeds two or three times in the
year； and always in summer。 He is commended for a fish of excellent
nourishment。 The Germans call him Groundling； by reason of his feeding
on the ground； and he there feasts himself； in sharp streams and on the
gravel。 He and the Barbel both feed so： and do not hunt for flies at any
time； as most other fishes do。 He is an excellent fish to enter a young
angler； being easy to be taken with a small red worm； on or very near to
the ground。 He is one of those leather…mouthed fish that has his teeth in his
throat； and will hardly be lost off from the hook if he be once strucken。
They be usually scattered up and down every river in the shallows； in
the heat of summer： but in autumn； when the weeds begin to grow sour
and rot； and the weather colder； then they gather together； and get into the
deeper parts of the water； and are to be fished for there； with your hook
always touching the ground； if you fish for him with a float or with a cork。
But many will fish for the Gudgeon by hand； with a running line upon the
ground； without a cork； as a Trout is fished for： and it is an excellent way；
if you have a gentle rod； and as gentle a hand。
There is also another fish called a POPE； and by some a RUFFE； a fish
that is not known to be in some rivers： he is much like the Perch for his
shape； and taken to be better than the Perch； but will not grow to be bigger
than a Gudgeon。 He is an excellent fish； no fish that swims is of a
pleasanter taste。 And he is also excellent to enter a young angler； for he is
a greedy biter： and they will usually lie； abundance of them together； in
one reserved place； where the water is deep and runs quietly； and an easy
angler； if he has found where they lie； may catch forty or fifty； or
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sometimes twice so many； at a standing。
You must fish for him with a small red worm； and if you bait the
ground with earth； it is excellent。
There is also a BLEAK or fresh…water Sprat； a fish that is ever in
motion； and therefore called by some the river…swallow； for just as you
shall observe the swallow to be； most evenings in summer； ever in motion；
making short and quick turns when he flies to catch flies； in the air； by
which he lives； so does the Bleak at the top of the water。 Ausonius would
have called him Bleak from his whitish colour： his back is of a pleasant
sad or sea…water…green； his belly； white and shining as the mountain snow。
And doubtless； though we have the fortune； which virtue has in poor
people； to be neglected； yet the Bleak ought to be much valued； though we
want Allamot salt； and the skill that the Italians have； to turn them into
anchovies。 This fish may be caught with a Pater…noster line； that is； six or
eight very small hooks tied along the line； one half a foot above the other：
I have seen five caught thus at one time； and the bait has been gentles；
than which none is better。
Or this fish may be caught with a fine small artificial fly； which is to
be of a very sad brown colour； and very small； and the hook answerable。
There is no better sport than whipping for Bleaks in a boat； or on a bank；
in the swift water； in a summer's evening； with a hazel top about five or six
foot long； and a line twice the length of the rod。 I have heard Sir Henry
Wotton say； that there be many that in Italy will catch swallows so； or
especially martins； this bird…angler standing on the top of a steeple to do it；
and with the line twice so long as I have spoken of。 And let me tell you；
scholar； that both Martins and Bleaks be most excellent meat
And let me tell you； that I have known a Heron； that did constantly
frequent one place； caught with a hook baited with a big minnow or a
small gudgeon。 The line and hook must be strong： and tied to some loose
staff； so big as she cannot fly away with it： a line not exceeding two yards。
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The fourth day…continued
Is of nothing； or of nothing worth
Chapter XVI
Piscator； Venator； Peter； Coridon
Piscator。 My purpose was to give you some directions concerning
ROACH and DACE； and some other inferior fish which make the angler
excellent sport； for you know there is more pleasure in hunting the hare
than in eating her： but I will forbear； at this time； to say any more； because
you see yonder come our brother Peter and honest Coridon。 But I will
promise you； that as you and I fish and walk to… morrow towards London；
if I have now forgotten anything that I can then remember； I will not keep
it from you。
Well met； gentlemen； this is lucky that we meet so just together at this
very door； Come； hostess； where are you ？ is supper ready ？ Come； first
give us a drink； and be as quick as you can； for I believe we are all very
hungry。 Well； brother Peter and Coridon； to you both！ Come； drink： and
then tell me what luck of fish： we two have caught but ten bouts； of which
my scholar caught three。 Look！ here's eight； and a brace we gave away。
We have had a most pleasant da