CHAPTER IV 



OBSERVATIONS OF THE NATURE AND BREEDING OF THE 

 TROUT, AND HOW TO FISH FOR HIM ; AND THE MILK- 

 MAID'S SONG 



[Ubfrfc H>ag] 



THE Trout is a fish highly valued both in this and foreign 

 nations : he may be justly said, as the old poet said 

 of wine, and we English say of venison, to be a generous 

 fish: a fish that is so like the buck that he also has 

 his seasons ; for it is observed, that he comes in and 

 goes out of season with the stag and buck ; Gesner says, 

 his name is of a German offspring, and says he is a fish 

 that feeds clean and purely, in the swiftest streams, 

 and on the hardest gravel ; and that he may justly 

 contend with all fresh-water fish, as the mullet may 

 with all sea-fish, for precedency and daintiness of taste, 

 and that being in right season, the most dainty palates 

 have allowed precedency to him. 



And before I go farther in my discourse, let me tell you, 

 that you are to observe, that as there be some barren 

 does, that are good in summer, so there be some barren 

 trouts that are good in winter ; but there are not many 

 that are so, for usually they be in their perfection in the 

 month of May, and decline with the buck. Now you 

 are to take notice, that in several countries, as in Germany 

 and in other parts, compared to ours, fish differ much 

 in their bigness and shape, and other ways, and so do 

 trouts ; it is well known that in the Lake Leman, the 

 Lake of Geneva, there are trouts taken of three cubits 

 100 c * 73 



