chap, iv.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 71 



with the Trout ; for after he is come to his full 

 growth, he declines in his body, and keeps his big- 

 ness, or thrives only in his head, till his death. And 

 you are to know, that he will about, especially be- 

 fore, the time of his spawning, get almost miracu- 

 lously through wears, and flood-gates against the 

 streams ; even through such high and swift places 

 as is almost incredible. Next, that the Trout usu- 

 ally spawns about October or November, but in some 

 rivers a little sooner or later : which is the more 

 observable, because most other fish spawn in the 

 spring or summer, when the sun hath warmed both 

 the earth and water, and made it fit for generation. 

 And you are to note, that he continues many months 

 out of season : for it may be observed of the Trout, 

 that he is like the Buck or the Ox, that will not be 

 fat in many months, though he go in the very same 

 pasture that horses do, which will be fat in one 

 month : and so you may observe, that most other 

 fishes recover strength, and grow sooner fat and in 

 season, than the Trout doth. 



And next you are to note, that till the sun gets 

 to such a height as to warm the earth and the 

 water, the Trout is sick, and lean, and lousy, and 

 unwholesome : for you shall in winter find him to 

 have a big head, and then to be lank, and thin, and 

 lean : at which time many of them have sticking 

 on them Sugs, or Trout-lice, which is a kind of a 

 worm, in shape hke a clove or pin, with a big head, 

 and sticks close to him and sucks his moisture ; 



