136 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part I. 



gates, or over wears, or hedges, or stops in the wa- 

 ter, even to a height beyond common belief. Ges- 

 ner speaks of such places as are known to be above 

 eight feet high above water. And our Camden men- 

 tions in his Britannia the like wonder to be in Pem- 

 brokeshire, where the river Tivy falls into the sea ; 

 and that the fall is so downright, and so high, that 

 the people stand and wonder at the strength and 

 sleight by which they see the Salmon use to get out 

 of the sea into the said river : aud tbe manner and 

 height of the place is so notable, that it is known far 

 by the name of the Salmon-Leap. Concerning which, 

 take this also out of Michael Drayton, my honest old 

 friend, as he tells it you in his Polyolbion. 

 And when the Salmon seeks a fresher stream to find, 

 Which hither from the Sea comes yearly by his kind ; 

 As he toivards season grows ; and stems the ivat'ry tract 

 Where Tivy, falling down, makes an high cataract, 

 Forc'd by the rising rocks that there her course oppose, 

 As though within her bounds they meant her to inclose ; 

 Here, when the labouring fish does at the foot arrive, 

 And finds that by his strength he does but vainly strive ; 

 His tail takes in his mouth, and bending like a bote 

 That's to full co?npass drawn, aloft himself doth throw, 

 Then springing at his height, as doth a little wand, 

 That bended end to end, and started from mans hand, 

 Far off itself doth cast ; so, does the Salmon vault : 

 And if at first he fail, his second summersault 

 He instantly essays : and, from his nimble ring, 

 Still ycrking, never leaves until himself he fling 

 Above the opposing stream. 



