The Compleat Angler

or and

ill and devour several other kinds of fish. He has a hooked or hog back, which is armed with sharp and stiff bristles, and all his skin armed, or covered over with thick dry hard scales, and hath, which

Perch and Pike above the Trout, or any fresh-water fish: he says the Germans have this proverb, "More wholesome than a Perch of Rhine": and

in their brain a stone, which is, in foreign parts, sold by apothecaries, being there noted to be very medicinable against the stone in the reins. These be a part of the commendations which some philosop

an of worth, and a brother of the angle, that yet lives, and I wish he may: this was a deep-bodied fish, and doubtless durst have devoured a Pike of half his own length. For I have told you, he is a bold

he midst of the day, if it be warm: and note, that all fish bite best about the midst of warm day in winter. And he hath been observed, by some, not usually to bite till the mulberry-tree buds; that is to say, til

ding, all catched one after another; they being, as he says, like the wicked of the world, not afraid, though their fellows and companions peris

ng, with a bluish head. And if you rove for a Perch with a minnow, then it is best to be alive; you sticking your hook through his back fin; or a minnow with the hook in his upper lip, and letting him swim up and down, about mid-water, or a little lower, and you still keeping him to about that depth by a cork, which ought not to be a very little one: and the like way you are t

our angles are like money put to usury; they may thrive, though we sit still, and

, which now grows both tedious and tiresome? Shall I have nothing f

shew the world that he could make soft and smooth verses, when he thought smoothness worth his lab

with me, an

some new ple

nds, and cry

lines, and s

he river whi

y eyes more

e enamel'd f

mselves the

lt swim in t

hich every c

sly to thee

atch thee, t

be so seen

on, thou dar

eyes have

heir light,

reeze with a

legs with sh

rously poo

ing snares o

ld hands, fro

fish in ban

raitors sleev

or wand'ring

ou need'st n

self art shi

at is not ca

afar, ala

py memory. Well, being I have now rested myself a little, I will make you some requital, by telling you some observations of the Eel; for it rains still: and because,

th day-c

d other Fish t