the complete angler-第27章

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dful　of　well…made　malt；　and　put　it　into　a　dish　of　water；　and　then　was＇l　and　rub　it　betwixt　your　hands　till　you　make　it　clean；　and　as　free　from　husks　as　you　can；　then　put　that　water　from　it；　and　put　a　small　quantity　of　fresh　water　to　it；　and　set　it　in　something　that　is　fit　for　that　purpose；　over　the　fire；　where　it　is　not　to　boil　apace；　but　leisurely　and　very　softly；　until　it　become　somewhat　soft；　which　you　may　try　by　feeling　it　betwixt　your　finger　and　thumb；　and　when　it　is　soft；　then　put　your　water　from　it：　and　then　take　a　sharp　knife；　and　turning　the　sprout　end　of　the　corn　upward　with　the　point　of　your　knife；　take　the　back　part　of　the　husk　off　from　it；　and　yet　leaving　a　kind　of　inward　husk　on　the　corn；　or　else　it　is　marr'd　and　then　cut　off　that　sprouted　end；　I　mean　a　little　of　it；　that　the　white　may　appear；　and　so　pull　off　the　husk　on　the　cloven　side；　as　I　directed　you；　and　then　cutting　off　a　very　little　of　the　other　end；　that　so　your　hook　may　enter；　and　if　your　hook　be　small　and　good；　you　will　find　this　to　be　a　very　choice　bait；　either　for　winter　or　summer；　you　sometimes　casting　a　little　of　it　into　the　place　where　your　float　swims。

And　to　take　the　Roach　and　Dace；　a　good　bait　is　the　young　brood　of　wasps　or　bees；　if　you　dip　their　heads　in　blood；　especially　good　for　Bream；　if　they　be　baked；　or　hardened　in　their　husks　in　an　oven；　after　the　bread　is　taken　out　of　it；　or　hardened　on　a　fire…shovel：　and　so　also　is　the　thick　blood　of　sheep；　being　half　dried　on　a　trencher；　that　so　you　may　cut　into　such　pieces　as　may　best　fit　the　size　of　your　hook；　and　a　little　salt　keeps　it　from　growing　black；　and　makes　it　not　the　worse；　but　better：　this　is　taken　to　be　a　choice　bait；　if　rightly　ordered。

There　be　several　oils　of　a　strong　smell　that　I　have　been　told　of；　and　to　be　excellent　to　tempt　fish　to　bite；　of　which　I　could　say　much。　But　I　remember　I　once　carried　a　small　bottle　from　Sir　George　Hastings　to　Sir　Henry　Wotton；　they　were　both　chemical　men；　as　a　great　present：　it　was　sent；　and　receiv'd；　and　us'd；　with　great　confidence；　and　yet；　upon　inquiry；　I　found　it　did　not　answer　the　expectation　of　Sir　Henry；　which；　with　the　help　of　this　and　other　circumstances；　makes　me　have　little　belief　in　such　things　as　many　men　talk　of。　Not　but　that　I　think　that　fishes　both　smell　and　hear；　as　I　have　express　in　my　former　discourse：　but　there　is　a　mysterious　knack；　which　though　it　be　much　easier　than　the　philosopher's　stone；　yet　is　not　attainable　by　common　capacities；　or　else　lies　locked　up　in　the　brain　or　breast　of　some　chemical　man；　that；　like　the　Rosicrucians；　will　not　yet　reveal　it。　But　let　me　nevertheless　tell　you；　that　camphire；　put　with　moss　into　your　worm…bag　with　your　worms；　makes　them；　if　many　anglers　be　not　very　much　mistaken；　a　tempting　bait；　and　the　angler　more　fortunate。　But　I　stepped　by　chance　into　this　discourse　of　oils；　and　fishes　smelling；　and　though　there　might　be　more　said；　both　of　it　and　of　baits　for　Roach　and　Dace　and　other　float…fish；　vet　I　will　for　bear　it　at　this　time；　and　tell　you；　in　the　next　place；　how　you　are　to　prepare　your　tackling：　concerning　which；　I　will；　for　sport　sake；　give　you　an　old　rhyme　out　of　an　old　fish　book；　which　will　prove　a　part；　and　but　a　part；　of　what　you　are　to　provide。

My　rod　and　my　line；　my　float　and　my　lead；　My　hook　and　my　plummet；　my　whetstone　and　knife；　My　basket；　my　baits；　both　living　and　dead；　My　net；　and　my　meat；　for　that　is　the　chief：　Then　I　must　have　thread；　and　hairs　green　and　small；　With　mine　angling　purse：　and　so　you　have　all。

But　you　must　have　all　these　tackling；　and　twice　so　many　more；　with　which；　if　you　mean　to　be　a　fisher；　you　must　store　yourself；　and　to　that　purpose　I　will　go　with　you；　either　to　Mr。　Margrave；　who　dwells　amongst　the　book…sellers　in　St。　Paul's　Church…yard；　or　to　Mr。　John　Stubs；　near　to　the　Swan　in　Goldinglane：　they　be　both　honest；　an；　and　will　fit　an　angler　with　what　tackling　he　lacks。

Venator。　Then；　good　master；　let　it　be　at　for　he　is　nearest　to　my　dwelling。　And　I　pray　let's　meet　there　the　ninth　of　May　next；　about　two　of　the　clock；　and　I'll　want　nothing　that　a　fisher　should　be　furnished　with。

Piscator。　Well；　and　I'll　not　fail　you；　God　willing；　at　the　time　and　place　appointed。

Venator。　I　thank　you；　good　master；　and　I　will　not　fail　you。　And；　good　master；　tell　me　what　BAITS　more　you　remember；　for　it　will　not　now　be　long　ere　we　shall　be　at　Tottenham…High…Cross；　and　when　we　come　thither　I　will　make　you　some　requital　of　your　pains；　by　repeating　as　choice　a　copy　of　Verses　as　any　we　have　heard　since　we　met　together；　and　that　is　a　proud　word；　for　we　have　heard　very　good　ones。

Piscator　Well；　scholar；　and　I　shall　be　then　right　glad　to　hear　them。　And　I　will；　as　we　walk；　tell　you　whatsoever　comes　in　my　mind；　that　I　think　may　be　worth　your　hearing。　You　may　make　another　choice　bait　thus：　take　a　handful　or　two　of　the　best　and　biggest　wheat　you　can　get；　boil　it　in　a　little　milk；　like　as　frumity　is　boiled；　boil　it　so　till　it　be　soft；　and　then　fry　it；　very　leisurely；　with　honey；　and　a　little　beaten　saffron　dissolved　in　milk；　and　you　will　find　this　a　choice　bait；　and　good；　I　think；　for　any　fish；　especially　for　Roach；　Dace；　Chub；　or　Grayling：　I　know　not　but　that　it　may　be　as　good　for　a　river　Carp；　and　especially　if　the　ground　be　a　little　baited　with　it。

And　you　may　also　note；　that　the　SPAWN　of　most　fish　is　a　very　tempting　bait；　being　a　little　hardened　on　a　warm　tile　and　cut　into　fit　pieces。　Nay；　mulberries；　and　those　black…berries　which　grow　upon　briars；　be　good　baits　for　Chubs　or　Carps：　with　these　many　have　been　taken　in　ponds；　and　in　some　rivers　where　such　trees　have　grown　near　the　water；　and　the　fruit　customarily　drops　into　it。　And　there　be　a　hundred　other　baits；　more　than　can　be　well　named；　which；　by　constant　baiting　the　water；　will　become　a　tempting　bait　for　any　fish　in　it。

You　are　also　to　know；　that　there　be　divers　kinds　of　CADIS；　or　Case…　worms；　that　are　to　be　found　in　this　nation；　in　several　distinct　counties；　in　several　little　brooks　that　relate　to　bigger　rivers；　as　namely；　one　cadis　called　a　piper；　whose　husk；　or　case；　is　a　piece　of　reed　about　an　inch　long；　or　longer；　and　as　big　about　as　the　compass　of　a　two…pence。　These　worms　being　kept　three　or　four　days　in　a　woollen　bag；　with　sand　at　the　bottom　of　it；　and　the　bag　wet　once　a　day；　will　in　three　or　four　days　turn　to　be　yellow；　and　these　be　a　choice　bait　for　the　Chub　or　Chavender；　or　indeed　for　any　great　fish；　for　it　is　a　large　bait。

There　is　also　a　lesser　cadis…worm；　called　a　Cockspur；　being　in　fashion　like　the　spur　of　a　cock；　sharp　at　one　end：　and　the　case；　or　house。　in　which　this　dwells；　is　made　of　small　husks；　and　gravel；　and　slime；　most　curiously　made　of　these；　even　so　as　to　be　wondered　at；　but　not　to　be　made　by　man；　no　more　than　a　king…fisher's　nest　can；　which　is　made　of　little　fishes'　bones；　and　have　such　a　geometrical　interweaving　and　connection　as　the　like　is　not　to　be　done　by　the　art　of　man。　This　kind　of　cadis　is　a　choice　bait　for　any　float…fish；　it　is　much　less　than　the　piper…　cadis；　and　to　be　so　ordered：　and　these　may　be　so　preserved；　ten；　fifteen；　or　twenty　days；　or　it　may　be　longer。

There　is　also　another　cadis；　called　by　some　a　Straw…worm；　and　by　some　a　Ruff…coat；　whose　house；　or　case；　is　made　of　little　pieces　of　bents；　and　rushes；　and　straws；　and　water…weeds；　and　I　know　not　what；　which　are　so　knit　together　with　condensed　slime；　that　they　stick　about　her　husk　or　case；　not　unlike　the　bristles　of　a　hedge…hog。　These　three　cadises　are　commonly　taken　in　the　beginning　of　summer；　and　are　good；　indeed；　to　take　any　kind　of　fish；　with　float　or　otherwise。　I　might　tell　you　of　many　more；　which　as　they　do　early；　so　those　have　their　time　also　of　turning　to　be　flies　in　later　summer；　but　I　might　lose　myself；　and　tire　you；　by　such　a　discourse：　I　shall　therefore　but　remember　you；　that　to　know　these；　and　their　several　kinds；　and　to　what　flies　every　particular　cadis　turns；　and　then　how　to　use　them；　first　as　they　be　cadis；　and　after　as　they　be　flies；　is　an　art；　and　an　art　that　every　one　that　professes　to　be　an　angler　has　not　leisure　to　search　after；　and；　if　he　had；　is　not　capable　of　learning。

I'll　tell　you；　scholar；　several　countries　have　several　kinds　of　cadises；　that　indeed　differ　as　much　as　dogs　do；　that　is　to　say；　as　much　as　a　very　cur　and　a　greyhound　do。　These　be　usually　bred　in　the　very　little　rills；　or　ditches；　that　run　into　bigger　rivers；　and　I　think　a　more　proper　bait　for　those　very　rivers　than　any　other。　I　know　not　how；　or　of　what；　this　cadis　receives　life；　or　what　coloured　fly　it　turns　to；　but　doubtless　they　are　the　death　of　many　Trouts：　and　this　is　one　killing　way：

Take　one；　or　more　if　need　be；　of　these　large　yellow　cadis：　pull　off　his　head；　and　with　it　pull　out　his　black　gut；　put　the　body；　as　little　bruised　as　is　possible；　on　a　very　little　hook；　armed　on　with　a　red　hair；　which　will　shew　like　the　cadis…head；　and　a　very　little　thin　lead；　so　put　upon　the　shank　of　the　hook　that　it　may　sink　presently。　Throw　this　bait；　thus　ordered；　which　will　look　very　yellow；　into　any　great　still　hole　where　a　Trout　is；　and　he　will　presently　venture　his　life　for　it；　it　is　not　to　be　doubted；　if　you　be　not　espied；　and　that　the　bait　first　touch　the　water　before　the　line。　And　this　will　do　best　in　the　deepest　stillest　water。

Next；　let　me　tell　you；　I　have　been　much　pleased　to　walk　quietly　by　a　brook；　with　a　little　stick　in　my　hand；　with　which　I　might　easily　take　these；　and　consider　the　curiosity　of　their　composure：　and　if　you　should　ever　like　to　do　so；　then　note；　that　your　stick　must　be　a　little　hazel；　or　willow；　cleft；　or　have　a　nick　at　one　end　of　it；　by　which　means　you　may；　with　ease；　take　many　of　them　in　that　nick　out　of　the　water；　before　you　have　any　occasion　to　use　them。　These；　my　honest　scholar；　are　some　observations；　told　to　you　as　they　now　come　suddenly　into　my　memory；　of　which　you　may　make　some　use：　but　for　the　practical　part；　it　is　that　that　makes　an　angler：　it　is　diligence；　and　observation；　and　practice；　and　an　ambition　to　be　the　best　in　the　art；　that　must　do　it。　I　will　tell　you；　scholar；　I　once　heard　one　say；　〃　I　envy　not　him　that　eats　better　meat　than　I　do；　nor　him　that　is　richer；　or　that　wears　better　clothes　than　I　do：　I　envy　nobody　but　him；　and　him　only；　that　catches　more　fish　than　I　do　〃。　And　such　a　man　is　like　to　prove　an　angler；　and　this　noble　emulation　I　wish　to　you；　and　all　young　anglers。






The　FIFTH　day…continued

Of　the　Minnow；　or　Penk；　Loach；　Bull…Head；　or　Miller's…　Thumb：　and　the　Stickle…bag

Chapter　XVIII

Piscator　and　Venator

Piscator。　There　be　also　three　or　four　other　little　fish　that　I　had　almost　forgot；　that　are　all　without　scales；　and　may　for　excellency　of　meat；　be　compared　to　any　fish　of　greatest　value　and　largest　size。　They　be　usually　full　of　eggs　or　spawn；　all　the　months　of　summer；　for　they　breed　often；　as　'tis　observed　mice　and　many　of　the　smaller　four…footed　creatures　of　the　earth　do　and　as　those；　so　these　come　quickly　to　their　full　growth　and　perfection。　And　it　is　needful　that　they　breed　both　often　and　numerously；　for　they　be；　besides　other　accidents　of　ruin；　both　a　prey　and　baits　for　other　fish。　And　first　I　shall　tell　you　of　the　Minnow　or　Penk。

The　MINNOW　hath；　when　he　is　in　perfect　season；　and　not　sick；　which　is　only　presently　after　spawning；　a　kind　of　dappled　or　waved　colour；　like　to