198 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



himself amongst piles, or in hollow places, and take 

 such hold of moss or weeds, that be the water never 

 so swift, it is not able to force him from the place 

 that he contends for. This is his constant custom 

 in summer, when he and most living creatures 

 sport themselves in the sun ; but at the approach of 

 winter, then he forsakes the swift streams and 

 shallow waters, and by degrees retires to those parts 

 of the river that are quiet and deeper : in which 

 places, and I think about that time, he spawns ; and, 

 as I have formerly told you, with the help of the 

 melter, hides his spawn or eggs in holes, which 

 they both dig in the gravel ; and then they mutually 

 labour to cover it with the same sand, to prevent 

 it from being devoured by other fish. 



There be such store of this fish in the river Da- 

 nube, that Rondeletius says, they may in some places 

 of it, and in some months of the year, be taken by 

 those that dwell near to the river, with their hands, 

 eight or ten load at a time. He says, they begin to 

 be good in May, and that they cease to be so in 

 August, but it is found to be otherwise in this na- 

 tion : but thus far we agree with him, that the 

 spawn of a Barbel, if it be not poison, as he says, 

 yet that it is dangerous meat, and especially in the 

 month of May ; which is so certain, that Gesner and 

 Gasius declare, it had an ill effect upon them, even 

 to the endangering of their lives. 



This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape, 

 with small scales, which are placed after a most 



