THE COMPLETE ANGLER 189 



the approach of winter, then he forsakes the swift streams 

 and shallow waters, and by degrees retires to those parts 

 of the river that are quiet and deeper : in which places, 

 and I think about that time, he spawns, and, as I have 

 formerly told you, with the help of the melter, hides his 

 spawn or eggs in holes, which they both dig in the gravel, 

 and then they mutually labour to cover it with the same 

 sand, to prevent it from being devoured by other fish. 



There be such store of this fish in the River Danube, 

 that Rondeletius says, they may in some places of it, and 

 in some months of the year, be taken by those that dwell 

 near to the river, with their hands, eight or ten load at a 

 time : he says, they begin to be good in May, and that they 

 cease to be so in August ; but it is found to be otherwise 

 in this nation : but thus far we agree with him, that the 

 spawn of a barbel, if it be not poison, as he says, yet that it 

 is dangerous meat, and especially in the month of May ; 

 which is so certain, that Gesner and Gasius declare it had 

 an ill effect upon them, even to the endangering of their 

 lives.* 



This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape, with small 

 scales, which are placed after a most exact and curious 

 manner, and, as I told you, may be rather said not to be ill, 

 than to be good meat : the chub and he have, I think, both 

 lost part of their credit by ill cookery, they being reputed 

 the worst or coarsest of fresh-water fish. But the barbel 

 affords an angler choice sport, being a lusty and a cunning 



* Though the spawn of the barbel is known to be of a poisonous 

 nature, yet it is often taken by country people medicinally ; who 

 find it at once, a most powerful emetic and carthartic. And, not- 

 withstanding what is said of the wholesomeness of the flesh, with 

 some constitutions it produces the same effects as the spawn. About 

 the month of September, in the year 1574, a servant of mine, who had 

 eaten part of a barbel, though, as I had cautioned him, he abstained 

 from the spawn, was seized with such violent purging and vomiting, 

 as had like to have cost him his life. H. 



[NOTE. I doubt very much the truth of the alleged noxious 

 properties either of the roe or the flesh of barbel when in condition, 

 in the month of July, August, September, and October. Their 

 edible qualities are bad that is, tasteless. E.] 



