the complete angler-第20章

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　the　Pikes　of　England；　and　that　in　England；　Lincolnshire　boasteth　to　have　the　biggest。　Just　so　doth　Sussex　boast　of　four　sorts　of　fish；　namely；　an　Arundel　Mullet；　a　Chichester　Lobster；　a　Shelsey　Cockle；　and　an　Amerly　Trout。

But　I　will　take　up　no　more　of　your　time　with　this　relation；　but　proceed　to　give　you　some　Observations　of　the　Carp；　and　how　to　angle　for　him；　and　to　dress　him　but　not　till　he　is　caught。




The　fourth　day　…　continued

On　the　Carp

Chapter　IX

Piscator

The　Carp　is　the　queen　of　rivers；　a　stately；　a　good；　and　a　very　subtil　fish；　that　was　not　at　first　bred；　nor　hath　been　long　in　England；　but　is　now　naturalised。　It　is　said；　they　were　brought　hither　by　one　Mr。　Mascal；　a　gentleman　that　then　lived　at　Plumsted　in　Sussex；　a　county　that　abounds　more　with　this　fish　than　any　in　this　nation。

You　may　remember　that　I　told　you　Gesner　says　there　are　no　Pikes　in　Spain；　and　doubtless　there　was　a　time；　about　a　hundred　or　a　few　more　years　ago；　when　there　were　no　Carps　in　England；　as　may　seem　to　be　affirmed　by　Sir　Richard　Baker；　in　whose　Chronicle　you　may　find　these　verses：

Hops　and　turkies；　carps　and　beer；　Came　into　England　all　in　a　year。

And　doubtless；　as　of　sea…fish　the　Herring　dies　soonest　out　of　the　water；　and　of　fresh…water　fish　the　Trout；　so；　except　the　Eel；　the　Carp　endures　most　hardness；　and　lives　longest　out　of　its　own　proper　element；　and；　therefore；　the　report　of　the　Carp's　being　brought　out　of　a　foreign　country　into　this　nation　is　the　more　probable。

Carps　and　Loaches　are　observed　to　breed　several　months　in　one　year；　which　Pikes　and　most　other　fish　do　not；　and　this　is　partly　proved　by　tame　and　wild　rabbits；　as　also　by　some　ducks；　which　will　lay　eggs　nine　of　the　twelve　months；　and　yet　there　be　other　ducks　that　lay　not　longer　than　about　one　month。　And　it　is　the　rather　to　be　believed；　because　you　shall　scarce　or　never　take　a　male　Carp　without　a　melt；　or　a　female　without　a　roe　or　spawn；　and　for　the　most　part　very　much；　and　especially　all　the　summer　season；　and　it　is　observed；　that　they　breed　more　naturally　in　ponds　than　in　running　waters；　if　they　breed　there　at　all；　and　that　those　that　live　in　rivers　are　taken　by　men　of　the　best　palates　to　be　much　the　better　meat。

And　it　is　observed　that　in　some　ponds　Carps　will　not　breed；　especially　in　cold　ponds；　but　where　they　will　breed；　they　breed　innumerably：　Aristotle　and　Pliny　say　six　times　in　a　year；　if　there　be　no　Pikes　nor　Perch　to　devour　their　spawn；　when　it　is　cast　upon　grass　or　flags；　or　weeds；　where　it　lies　ten　or　twelve　days　before　it　be　enlivened

The　Carp；　if　he　have　water…room　and　good　feed；　will　grow　to　a　very　great　bigness　and　length；　I　have　heard；　to　be　much　above　a　yard　long。　It　is　said　by　Jovius；　who　hath　writ　of　fishes；　that　in　the　lake　Lurian　in　Italy；　Carps　have　thriven　to　be　more　than　fifty　pounds　weight：　which　is　the　more　probable；　for　as　the　bear　is　conceived　and　born　suddenly；　and　being　born　is　but　short　lived；　so；　on　the　contrary；　the　elephant　is　said　to　be　two　years　in　his　dam's　belly；　some　think　he　is　ten　years　in　it；　and　being　born；　grows　in　bigness　twenty　years；　and　it　is　observed　too；　that　he　lives　to　the　age　of　a　hundred　years。　And　'tis　also　observed；　that　the　crocodile　is　very　long…lived；　and　more　than　that；　that　all　that　long　life　he　thrives　in　bigness；　and　so　I　think　some　Carps　do；　especially　in　some　places；　though　I　never　saw　one　above　twenty…three　inches；　which　was　a　great　and　goodly　fish；　but　have　been　assured　there　are　of　a　far　greater　size；　and　in　England　too。

Now；　as　the　increase　of　Carps　is　wonderful　for　their　number；　so　there　is　not　a　reason　found　out；　I　think；　by　any；　why　they　should　breed　in　some　ponds；　and　not　in　others；　of　the　same　nature　for　soil　and　all　other　circumstances。　And　as　their　breeding；　so　are　their　decays　also　very　mysterious：　I　have　both　read　it；　and　been　told　by　a　gentleman　of　tried　honesty；　that　he　has　known　sixty　or　more　large　Carps　put　into　several　ponds　near　to　a　house；　where　by　reason　of　the　stakes　in　the　ponds；　and　the　owner's　constant　being　near　to　them；　it　was　impossible　they　should　be　stole　away　from　him；　and　that　when　he　has；　after　three　or　four　years；　emptied　the　pond；　and　expected　an　increase　from　them　by　breeding　young　ones；　for　that　they　might　do　so　he　had；　as　the　rule　is；　put　in　three　melters　for　one　spawner；　he　has；　I　say；　after　three　or　four　years；　found　neither　a　young　nor　old　Carp　remaining。　And　the　like　I　have　known　of　one　that　had　almost　watched　the　pond；　and；　at　a　like　distance　of　time；　at　the　fishing　of　a　pond；　found；　of　seventy　or　eighty　large　Carps；　not　above　five　or　six：　and　that　he　had　forborne　longer　to　fish　the　said　pond；　but　that　he　saw；　in　a　hot　day　in　summer；　a　large　Carp　swim　near　the　top　of　the　water　with　a　frog　upon　his　head；　and　that　he；　upon　that　occasion；　caused　his　pond　to　be　let　dry：　and　I　say；　of　seventy　or　eighty　Carps；　only　found　five　or　six　in　the　said　pond；　and　those　very　sick　and　lean；　and　with　every　one　a　frog　sticking　so　fast　on　the　head　of　the　said　Carps；　that　the　frog　would　not　be　got　off　without　extreme　force　or　killing。　And　the　gentleman　that　did　affirm　this　to　me；　told　me　he　saw　it；　and　did　declare　his　belief　to　be；　and　I　also　believe　the　same；　that　he　thought　the　other　Carps；　that　were　so　strangely　lost；　were　so　killed　by　the　frogs；　and　then　devoured。

And　a　person　of　honour；　now　living　in　Worcestershire；　assured　me　he　had　seen　a　necklace；　or　collar　of　tadpoles；　hang　like　a　chain　or　necklace　of　beads　about　a　Pike's　neck；　and　to　kill　him：　Whether　it　were　for　meat　or　malice；　must　be；　to　me；　a　question。

But　I　am　fallen　into　this　discourse　by　accident；　of　which　I　might　say　more；　but　it　has　proved　longer　than　I　intended；　and　possibly　may　not　to　you　be　considerable：　I　shall　therefore　give　you　three　or　four　more　short　observations　of　the　Carp；　and　then　fall　upon　some　directions　how　you　shall　fish　for　him。

The　age　of　Carps　is　by　Sir　Francis　Bacon；　in　his　History　of　　Life　and　Death；　observed　to　be　but　ten　years；　yet　others　think　they　live　longer。　Gesner　says；　a　Carp　has　been　known　to　live　in　the　Palatine　above　a　hundred　years　But　most　conclude；　that；　contrary　to　the　Pike　or　Luce；　all　Carps　are　the　better　for　age　and　bigness。　The　tongues　of　Carps　are　noted　to　be　choice　and　costly　meat；　especially　to　them　that　buy　them：　but　Gesner　says；　Carps　have　no　tongue　like　other　fish；　but　a　piece　of　fleshlike　fish　in　their　mouth　like　to　a　tongue；　and　should　be　called　a　palate：　but　it　is　certain　it　is　choicely　good；　and　that　the　Carp　is　to　be　reckoned　amongst　those　leather…mouthed　fish　which；　I　told　you；　have　their　teeth　in　their　throat；　and　for　that　reason　he　is　very　seldom　lost　by　breaking　his　hold；　if　your　hook　be　once　stuck　into　his　chaps。

I　told　you　that　Sir　Francis　Bacon　thinks　that　the　Carp　lives　but　ten　years：　but　Janus　Dubravius　has　writ　a　book　Of　fish　and　fish…ponds　in　which　he　says；　that　Carps　begin　to　spawn　at　the　age　of　three　years；　and　continue　to　do　so　till　thirty：　he　says　also；　that　in　the　time　of　their　breeding；　which　is　in　summer；　when　the　sun　hath　warmed　both　the　earth　and　water；　and　so　apted　them　also　for　generation；　that　then　three　or　four　male　Carps　will　follow　a　female；　and　that　then；　she　putting　on　a　seeming　coyness；　they　force　her　through　weeds　and　flags；　where　she　lets　fall　her　eggs　or　spawn；　which　sticks　fast　to　the　weeds；　and　then　they　let　fall　their　melt　upon　it；　and　so　it　becomes　in　a　short　time　to　be　a　living　fish：　and；　as　I　told　you；　it　is　thought　that　the　Carp　does　this　several　months　in　the　year；　and　most　believe；　that　most　fish　breed　after　this　manner；　except　the　Eel。　And　it　has　been　observed；　that　when　the　spawner　has　weakened　herself　by　doing　that　natural　office；　that　two　or　three　melters　have　helped　her　from　off　the　weeds；　by　bearing　her　up　on　both　sides；　and　guarding　her　into　the　deep。　And　you　may　note；　that　though　this　may　seem　a　curiosity　not　worth　observing；　yet　others　have　judged　it　worth　their　time　and　costs　to　make　glass　hives；　and　order　them　in　such　a　manner　as　to　see　how　bees　have　bred　and　made　their　honeycombs；　and　how　they　have　obeyed　their　king；　and　governed　their　commonwealth。　But　it　is　thought　that　all　Carps　are　not　bred　by　generation；　but　that　some　breed　other　ways；　as　some　Pikes　do。

The　physicians　make　the　galls　and　stones　in　the　heads　of　Carps　to　be　very　medicinable。　But　it　is　not　to　be　doubted　but　that　in　Italy　they　make　great　profit　of　the　spawn　of　Carps；　by　selling　it　to　the　Jews；　who　make　it　into　red　caviare；　the　Jews　not　being　by　their　law　admitted　to　eat　of　caviare　made　of　the　Sturgeon；　that　being　a　fish　that　wants　scales；　and；　as　may　appear　in　Leviticus　xi。；　by　them　reputed　to　be　unclean。

Much　more　might　be　said　out　of　him；　and　out　of　Aristotle；　which　Dubravius　often　quotes　in　his　Discourse　of　Fishes：　but　it　might　rather　perplex　than　satisfy　you；　and　therefore　I　shall　rather　choose　to　direct　you　how　to　catch；　than　spend　more　time　in　discoursing　either　of　the　nature　or　the　breeding　of　this　Carp；　or　of　any　more　circumstances　concerning　him。　But　yet　I　shall　remember　you　of　what　I　told　you　before；　that　he　is　a　very　subtil　fish；　and　hard　to　be　caught

And　my　first　direction　is；　that　if　you　will　fish　for　a　Carp；　you　must　put　on　a　very　large　measure　of　patience；　especially　to　fish　for　a　river　Carp：　I　have　known　a　very　good　fisher　angle　diligently　four　or　six　hours　in　a　day；　for　three　or　four　days　together；　for　a　river　Carp；　and　not　have　a　bite。　And　you　are　to　note；　that；　in　some　ponds；　it　is　as　hard　to　catch　a　Carp　as　in　a　river；　that　is　to　say；　where　they　have　store　of　feed；　and　the　water　is　of　a　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