72 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



those, I think, the Trout breeds himself, and never 

 thrives till he free himself from them, which is 

 when warm weather comes ; and then, as he grows 

 stronger, he gets from the dead still water into 

 the sharp streams and the gravel, and there rubs 

 off these worms or lice ; and then, as he grows 

 stronger, so he gets him into swifter and swifter 

 streams, and there lies at the watch for any fly or 

 minnow, that comes near to him : and he especially 

 loves the May-fly, which is bred of the Cod- worm, 

 or Cadis ; and these make the Trout bold and lusty, 

 and he is usually fatter and better meat at the end 

 of that month than at any time of the year. 



Now you are to know, that it is observed, that 

 usually the best Trouts are either red or yellow ; 

 though some, as the Fordidge Trout, be white and 

 yet good ; but that is not usual : and it is a note 

 observable, that the female Trout hath usually a 

 less head, and a deeper body than the male Trout ; 

 and is usually the better meat. And note, that a 

 hog-back and a little head, to either Trout, Sal- 

 mon, or any other fish, is a sign that that fish is in 

 season. 



But yet you are to note, that as you see some 

 willows or palm-trees, bud and blossom sooner than 

 others do, so some Trouts be in rivers sooner in 

 season : and as some hollies or oaks are longer be- 

 fore they cast their leaves, so are some Trouts in 

 rivers longer before they go out of season. 



And you are to note, that there are several kinds 



