chap, ii.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 51 



you shall bear mine to morrow ; for my intention 

 is to accompany you a day or two in fishing. 



Pise. Sir, your request is granted, and I shall be 

 right glad, both to exchange such a courtesy, and 

 also to enjoy your company. 



Ven. Well, now let's go to your sport of Angling. 



Pise. Let's be going with all my heart. God keep 

 you all, Gentlemen, and send you meet this day with 

 another bitch-otter, and kill her merrily, and all her 

 young ones too. 



Ven. Now, Piscator, where will you begin to fish ? 



Pise. We are not yet come to a likely place, I 

 must walk a mile further yet, before I begin. 



Ven. Well then, I pray, as we walk, tell me freely 

 how do you like your lodging, and mine Host, and 

 the company ? Is not mine Host a witty man ? 



Pise. Sir, I will tell you presently what I think of 

 your Host ; but first I will tell you, I am glad these 

 otters were killed, and I am sorry that there are 

 no more otter-killers : for I know that the want of 

 otter-killers, and the not keeping the Fence-months 

 for the preservation of fish, will in time prove the 

 destruction of all rivers ; and those very few that 

 are left, that make conscience of the laws of the 

 nation, and of keeping days of abstinence, will be 

 forced to eat flesh, or suffer more inconveniences 

 than are yet foreseen. 



Ven. Why Sir, what be those that you call the 

 Fence-months ? 



