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breed； and are also refreshed and fed the better； and do prove to be of a
much sweeter and more pleasant taste。
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To which end it is observed； that such pools as be large and have most
gravel； and shallows where fish may sport themselves； do afford fish of
the purest taste。 And note； that in all pools it is best for fish to have some
retiring place； as namely； hollow banks； or shelves； or roots of trees； to
keep them from danger； and； when they think fit； from the extreme heat of
summer； as also from the extremity of cold in winter。 And note； that if
many trees be growing about your pond； the leaves thereof falling into the
water； make it nauseous to the fish； and the fish to be so to the eater of it。
'Tis noted； that the Tench and Eel love mud； and the Carp loves
gravelly ground； and in the hot months to feed on grass。 You are to cleanse
your pond； if you intend either profit or pleasure； once every three or four
years； especially some ponds； and then let it dry six or twelve months；
both to kill the water…weeds； as water…lilies； can…docks； reate； and
bulrushes； that breed there； and also that as these die for want of water； so
grass may grow in the pond's bottom； which Carps will eat greedily in all
the hot months； if the pond be clean。 The letting your pond dry and sowing
oats in the bottom is also good； for the fish feed the faster； and being
sometimes let dry； you may observe what kind of fish either increases or
thrives best in that water； for they differ much； both in their breeding and
feeding。
Lebault also advises； that if your ponds be not very large and roomy；
that you often feed your fish； by throwing into them chippings of bread；
curds； grains； or the entrails of chickens or of any fowl or beast that you
kill to feed yourselves； for these afford fish a great relief。 He says； that
frogs and ducks do much harm； and devour both the spawn and the young
fry of all fish； especially of the Carp； and I have； besides experience； many
testimonies of it。 But Lebault allows water…frogs to be good meat；
especially in some months； if they be fat： but you are to note； that he is a
Frenchman； and we English will hardly believe him； though we know
frogs are usually eaten in his country： however he advises to destroy them
and king…fishers out of your ponds。 And he advises not to suffer much
shooting at wild fowl； for that； he says； affrightens； and harms； and
destroys the fish。
Note； that Carps and Tench thrive and breed best when no other fish is
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put with them into the same pond； for all other fish devour their spawn； or
at least the greatest part of it。 And note； that clods of grass thrown into any
pond feed any Carps in summer； and that garden…earth and parsley thrown
into a pond recovers and refreshes the sick fish。 And note； that when you
store your pond； you are to put into it two or three melters for one spawner；
if you put them into a breeding…pond； but if into a nurse…pond； or feeding…
pond； in which they will not breed； then no care is to be taken whether
there be most male or female Carps。
It is observed that the best ponds to breed Carps are those that be stony
or sandy； and are warm； and free from wind； and that are not deep； but
have willow…trees and grass on their sides； over which the water does
sometimes flow： and note； that Carps do more usually breed in marle… pits；
or pits that have clean clay bottoms； or in new ponds； or ponds that lie dry
a winter season； than in old ponds that be full of mud and weeds。
Well； Scholar； I have told you the substance of all that either
observation or discourse； or a diligent survey of Dubravius and Lebault
hath told me： not that they； in their long discourses； have not said more；
but the most of the rest are so common observations； as if a man should
tell a good arithmetician that twice two is four。 I will therefore put an end
to this discourse； and we will here sit down and rest us。
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The FIFTH day…continued
Chapter XXI
Piscator and Venator
Piscator。 Well； Scholar； I have held you too long about these cadis； and
smaller fish； and rivers； and fish…ponds； and my spirits are almost spent；
and so I doubt is your patience； but being we are now almost at Tottenham
where I first met you； and where we are to part； I will lose no time； but
give you a little direction how to make and order your lines； and to colour
the hair of which you make your lines； for that is very needful to be known
of an angler； and also how to paint your rod； especially your top； for a
right…grown top is a choice commodity； and should be preserved from the
water soaking into it； which makes it in wet weather to be heavy and fish
ill…favouredly； and not true； and also it rots quickly for want of painting：
and I think a good top is worth preserving； or I had not taken care to keep
a top above twenty years。
But first for your Line。 First note； that you are to take care that your
hair be round and clear； and free from galls； or scabs； or frets： for a well…
chosen； even； clear； round hair； of a kind of glass…colour； will prove as
strong as three uneven scabby hairs that are ill…chosen； and full of galls or
unevenness。 You shall seldom find a black hair but it is round； but many
white are flat and uneven； therefore； if you get a lock of right； round； clear；
glass…colour hair； make much of it。
And for making your line； observe this rule： first； let your hair be clean
washed ere you go about to twist it； and then choose not only the clearest
hair for it； but hairs that be of an equal bigness； for such do usually stretch
all together； and break all together； which hairs of an unequal bigness
never do； but break singly； and so deceive the angler that trusts to them。
When you have twisted your links； lay them in water for a quarter of
an hour at least； and then twist them over again before you tie them into a
line： for those that do not so shall usually find their line to have a ha