the complete angler-第29章

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Piscator

DOCTOR　LEBAULT；　the　learned　Frenchman；　in　his　large　discourse　of　Maison　Rustique；　gives　this　direction　for　making　of　fish…ponds。　I　shall　refer　you　to　him；　to　read　it　at　large：　but　I　think　I　shall　contract　it；　and　yet　make　it　as　useful。

He　adviseth；　that　when　you　have　drained　the　ground；　and　made　the　earth　firm　where　the　head　of　the　pond　must　be；　that　you　must　then；　in　that　place；　drive　in　two　or　three　rows　of　oak　or　elm　piles；　which　should　be　scorched　in　the　fire；　or　half…burnt；　before　they　be　driven　into　the　earth；　for　being　thus　used；　it　preserves　them　much　longer　from　rotting。　And　having　done　so；　lay　faggots　or　bavins　of　smaller　wood　betwixt　them：　and　then；　earth　betwixt　and　above　them：　and　then；　having　first　very　well　rammed　them　and　the　earth；　use　another　pile　in　like　manner　as　the　first　were：　and　note；　that　the　second　pile　is　to　be　of　or　about　the　height　that　you　intend　to　make　your　sluice　or　floodgate；　or　the　vent　that　you　intend　shall　convey　the　overflowings　of　your　pond　in　any　flood　that　shall　endanger　the　breaking　of　your　pond…dam。

Then　he　advises；　that　you　plant　willows　or　owlers；　about　it；　or　both：　and　then　cast　in　bavins；　in　some　places　not　far　from　the　side；　and　in　the　most　sandy　places；　for　fish　both　to　spawn　upon；　and　to　defend　them　and　the　young　fry　from　the　many　fish；　and　also　from　vermin；　that　lie　at　watch　to　destroy　them；　especially　the　spawn　of　the　Carp　and　Tench；　when　'tis　left　to　the　mercy　of　ducks　or　vermin。

He；　and　Dubravius；　and　all　others　advise；　that　you　make　choice　of　such　a　place　for　your　pond；　that　it　may　be　refreshed　with　a　little　rill；　or　with　rain　water；　running　or　falling　into　it；　by　which　fish　are　more　inclined　both　to　breed；　and　are　also　refreshed　and　fed　the　better；　and　do　prove　to　be　of　a　much　sweeter　and　more　pleasant　taste。

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　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。





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　hair　or　two　shrink；　and　be　shorter　than　the　rest；　at　the　first　fishing　with　it；　which　is　so　much　of　the　strength　of　the　line　lost　for　want　of　first　watering　it；　and　then　re…twisting　it；　and　this　is　most　visible　in　a　seven…　hair　line；　one　of　those　which　hath　always　a　black　hair　in　the　middle。

And　for　dyeing　of　your　hairs；　do　it　thus：　take　a　pint　of　strong　ale；　half　a　pound　of　soot；　and　a　little　quantity　of　the　juice　of　walnut…tree　leaves；　and　an　equal　quantity　of　alum：　put　these　together　into　a　pot；　pan；　or　pipkin；　and　boil　them　half　an　hour；　and　having　so　done；　let　it　cool；　and　being　cold；　put　your　hair　into　it；　and　there　let　it　lie；　it　will　turn　your　hair　to　be　a　kind　of　water　or　glass　colour；　or　greenish；　and　the　longer　you　let　it　lie；　the　deeper　coloured　it　will　be。　You　might　be　taught　to　make　many　other　colours；　but　it　is　to　little　purpose；　for　doubtless　the　water…colour　or　glass…coloured　hair　is　the　most　choice　and　most　useful　for　an　angler；　but　let　it　not　be　too　green。

But　if　you　desire　to　colour　hair　greener；　then　do　it　thus：　take　a　quart　of　small　ale；　half　a　pound　of　alum；　then　put　these　into　a　pan　or　pipkin；　and　your　hair　into　it　with　them；　then　put　it　upon　a　fire；　and　let　it　boil　softly　for　half　an　hour；　and　then　take　out　your　hair；　and　let　it　dry；　and　having　so　done；　then　take　a　pottle　of　water；　and　put　into　it　two　handfuls　of　marigolds；　and　cover　it　with　a　tile　or　what　you　think　fit；　and　set　it　again　on　the　fire；　where　it　is　to　boil　again　softly　for　half　an　hour；　about　which　time　the　scum　will　turn　yellow；　then　put　into　it　half　a　pound　of　copperas；　beaten　small；　and　with　it　the　hair　that　you　intend　to　colour；　then　let　the　hair　be　boiled　softly　till　half　the　liquor　be　wasted；　and　then　let　it　cool　three　or　four　hours；　with　your　hair　in　it；　and　you　are　to　observe　that　the　more　copperas　you　put　into　it；　the　greener　it　will　be；　but　doubtless　the　pale　green　is　best。　But　if　you　desire　yellow　hair；　which　is　only　good　when　the　weeds　rot；　then　put　in　more　marigolds；　and　abate　most　of　the　copperas；　or　leave　it　quite　out；　and　take　a　little　verdigris　instead　of　it。

This　for　colouring　your　hair。

And　as　for　painting　your　Rod；　which　must　be　in　oil；　you　must　first　make　a　size　with　glue　and　water；　boiled　together　until　the　glue　be　dissolved；　and　the　size　of　a　lye…colour：　then　strike　your　size　upon　the　wood　with　a　bristle；　or　a　brush　or　pencil；　whilst　it　is　hot：　that　being　quite　dry；　take　white…lead；　and　a　little　red…lead；　and　a　little　coal…black；　so　much　as　altogether　will　make　an　ash…colour：　grind　these　altogether　with　linseed…　oil；　let　it　be　thick；　and　lay　it　thin　upon　the　wood　with　a　brush　or　pencil：　this　do　for　the　ground　of　any　colour　to　lie　upon　wood。

For　a　green；　take　pink　and　verdigris；　and　grind　them　together　in　linseed　oil；　as　thin　as　you　can　well　grind　it：　then　lay　it　smoothly　on　with　your　brush；　and　drive　it　thin；　once　doing；　for　the　most　part；　will　serve；　if　you　lay　it　well；　and　if　twice；　be　sure　your　first　colour　be　thoroughly　dry　before　you　lay　on　a　second。

Well；　Scholar；　having　now　taught　you　to　paint　your　rod；　and　we　having　still　a　mile　to　Tottenham　High…Cross；　I　will；　as　we　walk　towards　it　in　the　cool　shade　of　this　sweet　honeysuckle　hedge；　mention　to　you　some　of　the　thoughts　and　joys　that　have　possessed　my　soul　since　we　two　met　together。　And　these　thoughts　shall　be　told　you；　that　you　also　may　join　with　me　in　thankfulness　to　the　Giver　of　every　good　and　perfect　gift；　for　our　happiness。　And　that　our　present　happiness　may　appear　to　be　the　greater；　and　we　the　more　thankful　for　it；　I　will　beg　you　to　consider　with　me　how　many　do；　even　at　this　very　time；　lie　under　the　torment　of　the　stone；　the　gout；　and　tooth…ache；　and　this　we　are　fr