NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 345 



and cristalline streams, more especially when 

 rounded with gentle turns in rivers and rivulets, 

 that have sandy bottoms ; and if paved with gra- 

 vel, it's never the worse ; who almost to a mira- 

 cle affects cleanliness in eating ; and as he loves 

 his life, loves that his meat should always be 

 well washed before he eats it. This fresh-water 

 smelt seldom or never roves abroad as other fish 

 do, to recreate himself with insects and flies ; but 

 contents himself at home with a gentle, rather 

 than to ramble abroad for varieties ; for to speak 

 plain English, his life is in danger, and sentence 

 of death pronounced at the sight almost of every 

 master-fish. But the brandlin he adores as his 

 select modicum, and the gild-tail sweetens all his 

 diversions : so that if either be brought him to 

 sport and play with, he would have it vivid, but 

 not livid ; and sweetned and adorned with an 

 odoriferous perfume. 



Now some anglers have been pleased to write 

 various encomiums on this little curious piece 

 of mortality ; and they do him right : for he is 

 a fish, that not only entertains the angler with 

 the rod, but as if there were a familiarity betwixt 

 them, nibbles at his toes, whilst he muddles in 

 the streams ; diverting not the angler only, but 

 the salmon also. Besides the perch admires him, 

 and the eel, and the burbolt adore him. So do 

 many other fish, but the pike above all fish no 



