the complete angler-第19章

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that　we　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　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；　which　usually　keeps　or　breeds　on　the　land；　and　is　very　large　and　bony；　and　big；　especially　the　she…frog　of　that　kind：　yet　these　will　sometimes　come　into　the　water；　but　it　is　not　often：　and　the　land…frogs　are　some　of　them　observed　by　him；　to　breed　by　laying　eggs；　and　others　to　breed　of　the　slime　and　dust　of　the　earth；　and　that　in　winter　they　turn　to　slime　again；　and　that　the　next　summer　that　very　slime　returns　to　be　a　living　creature；　this　is　the　opinion　of　Pliny。　And　Cardanus　undertakes　to　give　a　reason　for　the　raining　of　frogs：　but　if　it　were　in　my　power；　it　should　rain　none　but　water…frogs；　for　those　I　think　are　not　venomous；　especially　the　right　water…frog；　which；　about　February　or　March；　breeds　in　ditches；　by　slime；　and　blackish　eggs　in　that　slime：　about　which　time　of　breeding；　the　he　and　she　frogs　are　observed　to　use　divers　summersaults；　and　to　croak　and　make　a　noise；　which　the　land…frog；　or　paddock…frog；　never　does。

Now　of　these　water…frogs；　if　you　intend　to　fish　with　a　frog　for　a　Pike；　you　are　to　choose　the　yellowest　that　you　can　get；　for　that　the　Pike　ever　likes　best。　And　thus　use　your　frog；　that　he　may　continue　long　alive：

Put　your　hook　into　his　mouth；　which　you　may　easily　do　from　the　middle　of　April　till　August；　and　then　the　frog's　mouth　grows　up；　and　he　continues　so　for　at　least　six　months　without　eating；　but　is　sustained；　none　but　He　whose　name　is　Wonderful　knows　how：　I　say；　put　your　hook；　I　mean　the　arming…wire；　through　his　mouth；　and　out　at　his　gills；　and　then　with　a　fine　needle　and　silk　sew　the　upper　part　of　his　leg；　with　only　one　stitch；　to　the　arming…wire　of　your　hook；　or　tie　the　frog's　leg；　above　the　upper　joint；　to　the　armed…wire；　and；　in　so　doing；　use　him　as　though　you　loved　him；　that　is；　harm　him　as　little　as　you　may　possibly；　that　he　may　live　the　longer。

And　now；　having　given　you　this　direction　for　the　baiting　your　ledger…　hook　with　a　live　fish　or　frog；　my　next　must　be　to　tell　you；　how　your　hook　thus　baited　must　or　may　be　used；　and　it　is　thus：　having　fastened　your　hook　to　a　line；　which　if　it　be　not　fourteen　yards　long　should　not　be　less　than　twelve；　you　are　to　fasten　that　line　to　any　bough　near　to　a　hole　where　a　Pike　is；　or　is　likely　to　lie；　or　to　have　a　haunt；　and　then　wind　your　line　on　any　forked　stick；　all　your　line；　except　half　a　yard　of　it　or　rather　more；　and　split　that　forked　stick；　with　such　a　nick　or　notch　at　one　end　of　it　as　may　keep　the　line　from　any　more　of　it　ravelling　from　about　the　stick　than　so　much　of　it　as　you　intend。　And　choose　your　forked　stick　to　be　of　that　bigness　as　may　keep　the　fish　or　frog　from　pulling　the　forked　stick　under　the　water　till　the　Pike　bites；　and　then　the　Pike　having　pulled　the　line　forth　of　the　cleft　or　nick　of　that　stick　in　which　it　was　gently　fastened；　he　will　have　line　enough　to　go　to　his　hold　and　pouch　the　bait　And　if　you　would　have　this　ledger…bait　to　keep　at　a　fixt　place　undisturbed　by　wind　or　other　accidents　which　may　drive　it　to　the　shore…　side；　for　you　are　to　note；　that　it　is　likeliest　to　catch　a　Pike　in　the　midst　of　the　water；　then　hang　a　small　plummet　of　lead；　a　stone；　or　piece　of　tile；　or　a　turf；　in　a　string；　and　cast　it　into　the　water　with　the　forked　stick　to　hang　upon　the　ground；　to　be　a　kind　of　anchor　to　keep　the　forked　stick　from　moving　out　of　your　intended　place　till　the　Pike　come：　this　I　take　to　be　a　very　good　way　to　use　so　many　ledger…baits　as　you　intend　to　make　trial　o￡

Or　if　you　bait　your　hooks　thus　with　live　fish　or　frogs；　and　in　a　windy　day；　fasten　them　thus　to　a　bough　or　bundle　of　straw；　and　by　the　help　of　that　wind　can　get　them　to　move　across　a　pond　or　mere；　you　are　like　to　stand　still　on　the　shore　and　see　sport　presently；　if　there　be　any　store　of　Pikes。　Or　these　live　baits　may　make　sport；　being　tied　about　the　body　or　wings　of　a　goose　or　duck；　and　she　chased　over　a　pond。　And　the　like　may　be　done　with　turning　three　or　four　live　baits；　thus　fastened　to　bladders；　or　boughs；　or　bottles　of　hay　or　flags；　to　swim　down　a　river；　whilst　you　walk　quietly　a＇one　on　the　shore；　and　are　still　in　expectaion　of　sport。　The　rest　must　be　taught　you　by　practice；　for　time　will　not　allow　me　to　say　more　of　this　kind　of　fishing　with　live　baits。

And　for　your　DEAD…BAIT　for　a　Pike：　for　that　you　may　be　taught　by　one　day's　going　a…fishing　with　me；　or　any　other　body　that　fishes　for　him；　for　the　baiting　your　hook　with　a　dead　gudgeon　or　a　roach；　and　moving　it　up　and　down　the　water；　is　too　easy　a　thing　to　take　up　any　time　to　direct　you　to　do　it。　And　yet；　because　I　cut　you　short　in　that；　I　will　commute　for　it　by　telling　you　that　that　was　told　me　for　a　secret：　it　is　this：　Dissolve　gum　of　ivy　in　oil　of　spike；　and　therewith　anoint　your　dead　bait　for　a　Pike；　and　then　cast　it　into　a　likely　place；　and　when　it　has　lain　a　short　time　at　the　bottom；　draw　it　towards　the　top　of　the　water；　and　so　up　the　stream；　and　it　is　more　than　likely　that　you　have　a　Pike　follow　with　more　than　common　eagerness。　And　some　affirm；　that　any　bait　anointed　with　the　marrow　of　the　thigh…bone　of　a　heron　is　a　great　temptation　to　any　fish。

These　have　not　been　tried　by　me；　but　told　me　by　a　friend　of　note；　that　pretended　to　do　me　a　courtesy。　But　if　this　direction　to　catch　a　Pike　thus　do　you　no　good；　yet　I　am　certain　this　direction　how　to　roast　him　when　he　is　caught　is　choicely　good；　for　I　have　tried　it；　and　it　is　somewhat　the　better　for　not　being　common。　But　with　my　direction　you　must　take　this　caution；　that　your　Pike　must　not　be　a　small　one；　that　is；　it　must　be　more　than　half　a　yard；　and　should　be　bigger。

〃First；　open　your　Pike　at　the　gills；　and　if　need　be；　cut　also　a　little　slit　towards　the　belly。　Out　of　these；　take　his　guts；　and　keep　his　liver；　which　you　are　to　shred　very　small；　with　thyme；　sweet　marjoram；　and　a　little　winter…savoury；　to　these　put　some　pickled　oysters；　and　some　anchovies；　two　or　three；　both　these　last　whole；　for　the　anchovies　will　melt；　and　the　oysters　should　not；　to　these；　you　must　add　also　a　pound　of　sweet　butter；　which　you　are　to　mix　with　the　herbs　that　are　shred；　and　let　them　all　be　well　salted。　If　the　Pike　be　more　than　a　yard　long；　then　you　may　put　into　these　herbs　more　than　a　pound；　or　if　he　be　less；　then　less　butter　will　suffice：　These；　being　thus　mixt；　with　a　blade　or　two　of　mace；　must　be　put　into　the　Pike's　belly；　and　then　his　belly　so　sewed　up　as　to　keep　all　the　butter　in　his　belly　if　it　be　possible；　if　not；　then　as　much　of　it　as　you　possibly　can。　But　take　not　off　the　scales。　Then　you　are　to　thrust　the　spit　through　his　mouth；　out　at　his　tail。　And　then　take　four　or　five　or　six　split　sticks；　or　very　thin　laths；　and　a　convenient　quantity　of　tape　or　filleting；　these　laths　are　to　be　tied　round　about　the　Pike's　body；　from　his　head　to　his　tail；　and　the　tape　tied　somewhat　thick；　to　prevent　his　breaking　or　falling　off　from　the　spit。　Let　him　be　roasted　very　leisurely；　and　often　basted　with　claret　wine；　and　anchovies；　and　butter；　mixt　together；　and　also　with　what　moisture　falls　from　him　into　the　pan。　When　you　have　roasted　him　sufficiently；　you　are　to　hold　under　him；　when　you　unwind　or　cut　the　tape　that　ties　him；　such　a　dish　as　you　purpose　to　eat　him　out　of；　and　let　him　fall　into　it　with　the　sauce　that　is　roasted　in　his　belly；　and　by　this　means　the　Pike　will　be　kept　unbroken　and　complete。　Then；　to　the　sauce　which　was　within；　and　also　that　sauce　in　the　pan；　you　are　to　add　a　fit　quantity　of　the　best　butter；　and　to　squeeze　the　juice　of　three　or　four　oranges。　Lastly；　you　may　either　put　it　into　the　Pike；　with　the　oysters；　two　cloves　of　garlick；　and　take　it　whole　out；　when　the　Pike　is　cut　off　the　spit；　or；　to　give　the　sauce　a　haut　go？t；　let　the　dish　into　which　you　let　the　Pike　fall　be　rubbed　with　it：　The　using　or　not　using　of　this　garlick　is　left　to　your　discretion。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　M。　B。〃

This　dish　of　meat　is　too　good　for　any　but　anglers；　or　very　honest　men；　and　I　trust　you　will　prove　both；　and　therefore　I　have　trusted　you　with　this　secret。

Let　me　next　tell　you；　that　Gesner　tells　us；　there　are　no　Pikes　in　Spain；　and　that　the　largest　are　in　the　lake　Thrasymene　in　Italy；　and　the　next；　if　not　equal　to　them；　are　the　Pikes　of　England；　and　that　in　England；　Lincolnshire　boasteth　to　have　the　biggest。　Just　so　doth