THE FOURTH DAY continued 

 Of the Barbel 



CHAPTER XIV 



PISCATOR, VENATOR, MILK-WOMAN 



PlSCATOR. The Barbel is so called, says Gesner, by 

 reason of his barb or wattles at his mouth, which are 

 under his nose or chaps. He is one of those 

 leather-mouthed fishes that I told you of, that does 

 very seldom break his hold if he be once hooked : 

 but he is so strong, that he will often break both rod 

 and line, if he proves to be a big one. 



But the Barbel, though he be of a fine shape, and 

 looks big, yet he is not accounted the best fish to 

 eat, neither for his wholesomeness nor his taste ; but 

 the male is reputed much better than the female, 

 whose spawn is very hurtful, as I will presently 

 declare to you. 



They flock together like sheep, and are at the 

 worst in April, about which time they spawn ; but 

 quickly grow to be in season. He is able to live in 

 the strongest swifts of the water : and, in summer, 

 they love the shallowest and sharpest streams : and 

 love to lurk under weeds, and to feed on gravel, against 

 a rising ground ; and will root and dig in the sands 

 with his nose like a hog, and there nests himself: 

 yet sometimes he retires to deep and swift bridges, 

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