142 The Complete Angler 



maining, nor one of these fish to be found, though 

 they were diligently searched for; and yet the 

 next spring, when the ice was thawed, and the 

 weather warm, and fresh water got into the pond, 

 he affirms they all appeared again, This Gesner 

 affirms ; and I quote my author, because it seems 

 almost as incredible as the resurrection to an 

 atheist: but it may win something, in point of be- 

 lieving it, to him that considers the breeding or 

 renovation of the silk-worm, and of many insects. 

 And that is considerable, which Sir Francis Bacon 

 observes in his History of Life and Death, fol. 20, 

 that there be some herbs that die and spring every 

 year, and some endure longer. 



But though some do not, yet the French esteem 

 this fish highly ; and to that end have this proverb, 

 " He that hath Breams in his pond, is able to bid 

 his friend welcome " ; and it is noted, that the best 

 part of a Bream is his belly and head. 



Some say, that Breams and Roaches will mix 

 their eggs and melt together; and so there is in 

 many places a bastard breed of Breams, that never 

 come to be either large or good, but very numerous. 



The baits good to catch this Bream are many. 

 First, paste made of brown bread and honey ; 

 gentles ; or the brood of wasps that be young, and 

 then not unlike gentles, and should be hardened in 

 an oven, or dried on a tile before the fire to make 

 them tough. Or, there is, at the root of docks or 

 flags or rushes, in watery places, a worm not unlike 

 a maggot, at which Tench will bite freely. Or he 

 will bite at a grasshopper with his legs nipt off, in 

 June and July ; or at several flies, under water, 

 which may be found on flags that grow near to the 

 water-side. I doubt not but that there be many 

 other baits that are good ; but I will turn them all 

 into this most excellent one, either for a Carp or 



