66 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



THE THIRD DAY. 



chap. iv. Observations of the Nature and Breed- 

 ing of the Trout, and how to Fish for him. And 

 the Milkmaid's Song. 



Piscator. 



_L he Trout is a fish highly valued hoth in this and 

 foreign nations. He may be justly said, as the old 

 Poet said of wine, and we English say of venison, 

 to be a generous fish : a fish that is so like the buck 

 tbat he also has his seasons ; for it is observed, that 

 he comes in and goes out of season with the stag 

 and buck. Gesner says, his name is of a German 

 offspring, and says he is a fish that feeds clean and 

 purely, in the swiftest streams, and on the hardest 

 gravel ; and that he may justly contend with all 

 fresh-water fish, as the Mullet may with all sea-fish, 

 for precedency and daintiness of taste, and that, be- 

 ing in right season, the most dainty palates have 

 allowed precedency to him. 



And before I go further in my discourse, let me 

 tell you, that you are to observe, that, as there be 

 some barren does, that are good in summer, so 

 there be some barren Trouts that are good in win- 

 ter : but there are not many that are so, for usually 

 they be in their perfection in the month of May, 

 and decline with the buck. Now you are to take 



