the complete angler-第21章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e：　and　these　small　pellets　being　a　few　of　them　also　thrown　in　as　you　are　angling；　will　be　the　better。

And　your　paste　must　be　thus　made：　take　the　flesh　of　a　rabbit；　or　cat；　cut　small；　and　bean…flour；　and　if　that　may　not　be　easily　got；　get　other　flour；　and　then；　mix　these　together；　and　put　to　them　either　sugar；　or　honey；　which　I　think　better：　and　then　beat　these　together　in　a　mortar；　or　sometimes　work　them　in　your　hands；　your　hands　being　very　clean；　and　then　make　it　into　a　ball；　or　two；　or　three；　as　you　like　best；　for　your　use：　but　you　must　work　or　pound　it　so　long　in　the　mortar；　as　to　make　it　so　tough　as　to　hang　upon　your　hook　without　washing　from　it；　yet　not　too　hard：　or；　that　you　may　the　better　keep　it　on　your　hook；　you　may　knead　with　your　paste　a　little；　and　not　too　much；　white　or　yellowish　wool。

And　if　you　would　have　this　paste　keep　all　the　year；　for　any　other　fish；　then　mix　with　it　virgin…wax　and　clarified　honey；　and　work　them　together　with　your　hands；　before　the　fire；　then　make　these　into　balls；　and　they　will　keep　all　the　year。

And　if　you　fish　for　a　Carp　with　gentles；　then　put　upon　your　hook　a　small　piece　of　scarlet　about　this　bigness；　it　being　soaked　in　or　anointed　with　oil　of　petre；　called　by　some；　oil　of　the　rock：　and　if　your　gentles　be　put；　two　or　three　days　before；　into　a　box　or　horn　anointed　with　honey；　and　so　put　upon　your　hook　as　to　preserve　them　to　be　living；　you　are　as　like　to　kill　this　crafty　fish　this　way　as　any　other：　but　still；　as　you　are　fishing；　chew　a　little　white　or　brown　bread　in　your　mouth；　and　cast　it　into　the　pond　about　the　place　where　your　float　swims。　Other　baits　there　be；　but　these；　with　diligence　and　patient　watchfulness；　will　do　better　than　any　that　I　have　ever　practiced　or　heard　of。　And　yet　I　shall　tell　you；　that　the　crumbs　of　white　bread　and　honey　made　into　a　paste　is　a　good　bait　for　a　Carp；　and　you　know；　it　is　more　easily　made。　And　having　said　thus　much　of　the　Carp；　my　next　discourse　shall　be　of　the　Bream；　which　shall　not　prove　so　tedious；　and　therefore　I　desire　the　continuance　of　your　attention。

But；　first；　I　will　tell　you　how　to　make　this　Carp；　that　is　so　curious　to　be　caught；　so　curious　a　dish　of　meat　as　shall　make　him　worth　all　your　labour　and　patience。　And　though　it　is　not　without　some　trouble　and　charges；　yet　it　will　recompense　both。

Take　a　Carp；　alive　if　possible；　scour　him；　and　rub　him　clean　with　water　and　salt；　but　scale　him　not：　then　open　him；　and　put　him；　with　his　blood　and　his　liver；　which　you　must　save　when　you　open　him；　into　a　small　pot　or　kettle：　then　take　sweet　marjoram；　thyme；　and　parsley；　of　each　half　a　handful；　a　sprig　of　rosemary；　and　another　of　savoury；　bind　them　into　two　or　three　small　bundles；　and　put　them　in　your　Carp；　with　four　or　five　whole　onions；　twenty　pickled　oysters；　and　three　anchovies。　Then　pour　upon　your　Carp　as　much　claret　wine　as　will　only　cover　him；　and　season　your　claret　well　with　salt；　cloves；　and　mace；　and　the　rinds　of　oranges　and　lemons。　That　done；　cover　your　pot　and　set　it　on　a　quick　fire　till　it　be　sufficiently　boiled。　Then　take　out　the　Carp；　and　lay　it；　with　the　broth；　into　the　dish；　and　pour　upon　it　a　quarter　of　a　pound　of　the　best　fresh　butter；　melted；　and　beaten　with　half　a　dozen　spoonfuls　of　the　broth；　the　yolks　of　two　or　three　eggs；　and　some　of　the　herbs　shred：　garnish　your　dish　with　lemons；　and　so　serve　it　up。　And　much　good　do　you！　Dr。　T。





The　fourth　day…continued

On　the　Bream

Chapter　X

Piscator

The　Bream；　being　at　a　full　growth；　is　a　large　and　stately　fish。　He　will　breed　both　in　rivers　and　ponds：　but　loves　best　to　live　in　ponds；　and　where；　if　he　likes　the　water　and　air；　he　will　grow　not　only　to　be　very　large；　but　as　fat　as　a　hog。　He　is　by　Gesner　taken　to　be　more　pleasant；　or　sweet；　than　wholesome。　This　fish　is　long　in　growing；　but　breeds　exceedingly　in　a　water　that　pleases　him；　yea；　in　many　ponds　so　fast；　as　to　overstore　them；　and　starve　the　other　fish。

He　is　very　broad；　with　a　forked　tail；　and　his　scales　set　in　excellent　order；　he　hath　large　eyes；　and　a　narrow　sucking　mouth；　he　hath　two　sets　of　teeth；　and　a　lozenge…like　bone；　a　bone　to　help　his　grinding。　The　melter　is　observed　to　have　two　large　melts；　and　the　female；　two　large　bags　of　eggs　or　spawn。

Gesner　reports；　that　in　Poland　a　certain　and　a　great　number　of　large　breams　were　put　into　a　pond；　which　in　the　next　following　winter　were　frozen　up　into　one　entire　ice；　and　not　one　drop　of　water　remaining；　nor　one　of　these　fish　to　be　found；　though　they　were　diligently　searched　for；　and　yet　the　next　spring；　when　the　ice　was　thawed；　and　the　weather　warm；　and　fresh　water　got　into　the　pond；　he　affirms　they　all　appeared　again。　This　Gesner　affirms；　and　I　quote　my　author；　because　it　seems　almost　as　incredible　as　the　resurrection　to　an　atheist：　but　it　may　win　something；　in　point　of　believing　it；　to　him　that　considers　the　breeding　or　renovation　of　the　silk…worm；　and　of　many　insects。　And　that　is　considerable；　which　Sir　Francis　Bacon　observes　in　his　History　of　Life　and　Death；　fol。　20；　that　there　be　some　herbs　that　die　and　spring　every　year；　and　some　endure　longer。

But　though　some　do　not；　yet　the　French　esteem　this　fish　highly；　and　to　that　end　have　this　proverb　〃　He　that　hath　Breams　in　his　pond；　is　able　to　bid　his　friend　welcome　〃；　and　it　is　noted；　that　the　best　part　of　a　Bream　is　his　belly　and　head。

Some　say；　that　Breams　and　Roaches　will　mix　their　eggs　and　melt　together；　and　so　there　is　in　many　places　a　bastard　breed　of　Breams；　that　never　come　to　be　either　large　or　good；　but　very　numerous。

The　baits　good　to　catch　this　Bream　are　many。　First；　paste　made　of　brown　bread　and　honey；　gentles；　or　the　brood　of　wasps　that　be　young；　and　then　not　unlike　gentles；　and　should　be　hardened　in　an　oven；　or　dried　on　a　tile　before　the　fire　to　make　them　tough。　Or；　there　is；　at　the　root　of　docks　or　flags　or　rushes；　in　watery　places；　a　worm　not　unlike　a　maggot；　at　which　Tench　will　bite　freely。　Or　he　will　bite　at　a　grasshopper　with　his　legs　nipt　off；　in　June　and　July；　or　at　several　flies；　under　water；　which　may　be　found　on　flags　that　grow　near　to　the　water…side。　I　doubt　not　but　that　there　be　many　other　baits　that　are　good；　but　I　will　turn　them　all　into　this　most　excellent　one；　either　for　a　Carp　or　Bream；　in　any　river　or　mere：　it　was　given　to　me　by　a　most　honest　and　excellent　angler；　and　hoping　you　will　prove　both；　I　will　impart　it　to　you。

1。　Let　your　bait　be　as　big　a　red　worm　as　you　can　find；　without　a　knot：　get　a　pint　or　quart　of　them　in　an　evening；　in　garden…walks；　or　chalky　commons；　after　a　shower　of　rain；　and　put　them　with　clean　moss　well　washed　and　picked；　and　the　water　squeezed　out　of　the　moss　as　dry　as　you　can；　into　an　earthen　pot　or　pipkin　set　dry；　and　change　the　moss　fresh　every　three　or　four　days；　for　three　weeks　or　a　month　together；　then　your　bait　will　be　at　the　best；　for　it　will　be　clear　and　lively。

2；　Having　thus　prepared　your　baits；　get　your　tackling　ready　and　fitted　for　this　sport。　Take　three　long　angling…rods；　and　as　many　and　more　silk；　or　silk　and　hair；　lines；　and　as　many　large　swan　or　goose…quill　floats。　Then　take　a　piece　of　lead；　and　fasten　them　to　the　low　ends　of　your　lines：　then　fasten　your　link…hook　also　to　the　lead；　and　let　there　be　about　a　foot　or　ten　inches　between　the　lead　and　the　hook：　but　be　sure　the　lead　be　heavy　enough　to　sink　the　float　or　quill；　a　little　under　the　water；　and　not　the　quill　to　bear　up　the　lead；　for　the　lead　must　lie　on　the　ground。　Note；　that　your　link　next　the　hook　may　be　smaller　than　the　rest　of　your　line；　if　you　dare　adventure；　for　fear　of　taking　the　Pike　or　Perch；　who　will　assuredly　visit　your　hooks；　till　they　be　taken　out；　as　I　will　show　you　afterwards；　before　either　Carp　or　Bream　will　come　near　to　bite。　Note　also；　that　when　the　worm　is　well　baited；　it　will　crawl　up　and　down　as　far　as　the　lead　will　give　leave；　which　much　enticeth　the　fish　to　bite　without　suspicion。

3。　Having　thus　prepared　your　baits；　and　fitted　your　tackling；　repair　to　the　river；　where　you　have　seen　them　swim　in　skulls　or　shoals。　in　the　summer…time；　in　a　hot　afternoon；　about　three　or　four　of　the　clock；　and　watch　their　going　forth　of　their　deep　holes；　and　returning；　which　you　may　well　discern；　for　they　return　about　four　of　the　clock；　most　of　them　seeking　food　at　the　bottom；　yet　one　or　two　will　lie　on　the　top　of　the　water；　rolling　and　tumbling　themselves；　whilst　the　rest　are　under　him　at　the　bottom；　and　so　you　shall　perceive　him　to　keep　sentinel：　then　mark　where　he　plays　most　and　stays　longest；　which　commonly　is　in　the　broadest　and　deepest　place　of　the　river；　and　there；　or　near　thereabouts；　at　a　clear　bottom　and　a　convenient　landing…place；　take　one　of　your　angles　ready　fitted　as　aforesaid；　and　sound　the　bottom；　which　should　be　about　eight　or　ten　feet　deep；　two　yards　from　the　bank　is　best。　Then　consider　with　yourself；　whether　that　water　will　rise　or　fall　by　the　next　morning；　by　reason　of　any　water…mills　near；　and；　according　to　your　discretion；　take　the　depth　of　the　place；　where　you　mean　after　to　cast　your　ground…bait；　and　to　fish；　to　half　an　inch；　that　the　lead　lying　on　or　near　the　ground…bait；　the　top　of　the　float　may　only　appear　upright　half　an　inch　above　the　water。

Thus　you　having　found　and　fitted　for　the　place　and　depth　thereof；　then　go　home　and　prepare　your　ground…bait；　which　is；　next　to　the　fruit　of　your　labours；　to　be　regarded。

The　GROUND…BAIT。

You　shall　take　a　peck；　or　a　peck　and　a　half；　according　to　the　greatness　of　the　stream　and　deepness　of　the　water；　where　you　mean　to　angle；　of　sweet　gross…ground　barley…malt；　and　boil　it　in　a　kettle；　one　or　two　warms　is　enough：　then　strain　it　through　a　bag　into　a　tub；　the　liquor　whereof　hath　often　done　my　horse　much　good；　and　when　the　bag　and　malt　is　near　cold；　take　it　down　to　the　water…side；　about　eight　or　nine　of　the　clock　in　the　evening；　and　not　before：　cast　in　two　parts　of　your　ground…bait；　squeezed　hard　between　both　your　hands；　it　will　sink　presently　to　the　bottom；　and　be　sure　it　may　rest　in　the　very　place　where　you　mean　to　angle：　if　the　stream　run　hard；　or　move　a　little；　cast　your　malt　in　handfuls　a　little　the　higher；　upwards　the　stream。　You　may；　between　your　hands；　close　the　malt　so　fast　in　handfuls；　that　the　water　will　hardly　part　it　with　the　fall。

Your　ground　thus　baited；　and　tackling　fitted；　leave　your　bag；　with　the　rest　of　your　tackling　and　ground…bait；　near　the　sporting…place　all　night；　and　in　the　morning；　about　three　or　four　of　the　clock；　visit　the　water…　side；　but　not　too　near；　for　they　have　a　cunning　watchman；　and　are　watchful　themselves　too。

Then；　gently　take　one　of　your　three　rods；　and　bait　your　hook；　casting　it　over　your　ground…bait；　and　gently　and　secretly　draw　it　to　you　till　the　lead　rests　about　the　middle　of　the　ground…bait。

Then　take　a　second　rod；　and　cast　in　about　a　yard　above；　and　your　third　a　yard　below　the　first　rod；　and　stay　the　rods　in　the　ground：　but　go　yourself　so　far　from　the　water…side；　that　you　perceive　nothing　but　the　top　of　the　floats；　which　you　must　watch　most　diligently。　Then　when　you　have　a　bite；　you　shall　perceive　the　top　of　your　float　to　sink　suddenly　into　the　water：　yet；　nevertheless；　be　not　too　hasty　to　run　to　your　rods；　until　you　see　that　the　line　goes　clear　away；　then　creep　to　the　water…side；　and　give　as　much　line　as　possibly　you　can：　if　it　be　a　good　Carp　or　Bream；　they　wi