E. B. CEOFT IZAAK WALTON AND THE EIVEE LEA. 13 



The Dace (Leiiciscus vulgaris), the EoAcn (Z. Entiiis), and the 

 RuDD (Z. enjthrophthtihnns) are all described by Walton. Tlie latter 

 he considers a cross between the two former, an opinion not concurred 

 in by modern naturalists. Roaeh may not be taken under eight, 

 dace and rudd iinder six inches in length. 



The Bleak (Z. aJbunius), called by Walton the fresh-water- 

 sprat, or the river-swallow, is still common, as is also the Minnow 

 or pink (Z. Phoxinus), which our author says is a sharp biter, " and 

 in hot weather makes excellent sport tor young anglers or boys or 

 women that love the recreation." 



The member of this family which is described at greatest length, 

 and as to whose capture, cooking, etc., the fullest directions are 

 given, is the Chub (Z. Ce/j/ia/us), called frequently the cheven, 

 or the cha vender. It was evidently a favourite of Walton's, 

 and still abounds in the river he loved so well. No chub 

 may be taken unless ten inches in length. 



The Loach ( Cohitis harbatula) is described as " a most dainty 

 fish" and "by learned physicians commended for great nourish- 

 ment, and to be very grateful both to the palate and stomach of 

 sick persons." It still inhabits our waters, but I have not heard 

 of its being prescribed by any learned physicians of late years. 

 Locally it is sometimes called the stone-loach. 



. Of the mighty LrcE or Pike {Esox Lticius) Walton has very 

 much to say ; he calls him " the tyrant of the rivers, or the fresh- 

 water wolf," and believes that " some are bred by generation, and 

 some otherwayes ; as namely, of a weed called pickerel- weed, 

 unless learned Gesner be much mistaken ; for he says, this weed 

 and other glutinous matter, with the help of the sun's heat in some 

 particular months, and some ponds apted for it by nature, do 

 become pikes." For this opinion Walton was severely taken to 

 task even in his own day, and some of his editors have thought fit 

 to comment sarcastically on his remarks. Yet it must be borne in 

 mind that many of the leading naturalists of the time were firm 

 believers in spontaneous generation, and amongst them several 

 whom Walton (who professed to be an angler rather than a natu- 

 ralist) had evidently deeply studied, such as Gesner, Francis Bacon, 

 and others. The pike, 1 need scarcely say, is still numerous in our 

 waters. In the fisheries under the control of the Board of Conserva- 

 tors it may not be taken unless ten inches in length. It is worthy 

 of remark that Walton never calls this fish a jack, but always the 

 luce or pike. 



The Salmon {Salmo Salar) is described at some length in the 

 ' Compleat Angler,' though much said therein as to its natural 

 history is erroneous. In and after the days of Walton the Lea was 

 a salmon-river. We read in Chauncy (1700) that in this river 

 there were "some Salmons," "and if these Fish had free Passage 

 by the Mills, and thro' the S luces at Waltham up the Stream 

 towards Ware and Hertford, where they might Spawn in fresh 

 Water, and were carefully preserved from Pochers, they would 

 greatly encrease in that River, and be of great benefit, as well to 



