chap, xiv.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 197 



THE FOURTH DAY. 



chap. xiv. Observations of the Barbel, and Direc- 

 tions how to Fish for him. 



PlSCATOR. 



J. he Barbel is so called, says Gesner, by reason of 

 his barb or wattels at his mouth, which are under 

 his nose or chaps. He is one of those leather- 

 mouthed fishes that I told you of, that does very 

 seldom break his hold if he be once hooked : but 

 he is so strong, that he will often break both rod 

 and line, if he proves to be a big one. 



But the Barbel, though he be of a fine shape, and 

 looks big, yet he is not accounted the best fish to 

 eat, neither for his wholesomeness nor his taste : 

 but the male is reputed much better than the fe- 

 male, whose spawn is very hurtful, as I will pre- 

 sently declare to you. 



They flock together like sheep, and are at the 

 worst in April, about which time they spawn, but 

 quickly grow to be in season. He is able to live in 

 the strongest swifts of the water, and in summer 

 they love the shallowest and sharpest streams ; and 

 love to lurk under weeds, and to feed on gravel 

 against a rising ground, and will root and dig in 

 the sands with his nose like a hog, and there nests 

 himself : yet sometimes he retires to deep and swift 

 bridges, or flood-gates, or wears, where he will nest 



