chap, xviii.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 231 



fection. And it is needful that they breed both often 

 and numerously ; for they be, besides other accidents 

 of ruin, both a prey and baits for other fish. And 

 first I shall tell vou of the Minnow or Penk. 



The Minnow hath, when he is in perfect season 

 and not sick, which is only presently after spawning, 

 — a kind of dappled or waved colour, like to a pan- 

 ther, on his sides, inclining to a greenish and sky-co- 

 lour, his belly being milk-white, and his back almost 

 black or blackish. He is a sharp biter at a small worm, 

 and, in hot weather makes excellent sport for young 

 Anglers, or boys, or women that love that recreation. 

 And in the spring they make of them excellent Min- 

 now-Tansies ; for, being washed well in salt, and their 

 heads and tails cut off, and their guts taken out, and 

 not washed after, — they prove excellent for that use ; 

 that is, being fried with yolks of eggs, the flowers of 

 cowslips, and of primroses, and a little tansie ; thus 

 used they make a dainty dish of meat. 



The Loach is, as I told you, a most dainty fish : 

 he breeds and feeds in little and clear swift brooks 

 or rills, and lives there upon the gravel, and in the 

 sharpest streams : he grows not to be above a fin- 

 ger long, and no thicker than is suitable to that 

 length. This Loach is not unlike the shape of the 

 Eel : he has a beard or wattels like a Barbel. He 

 has two fins at his sides, four at his belly, and one 

 at his tail ; he is dappled with many black or brown 

 spots ; his mouth is Barbel-like under his nose. This 

 fish is usually full of eggs or spawn, and is by Ges- 

 ner, and other learned physicians, commended for 



