THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 8 1 



the greatest part of this trout ; she has only left 

 thus much of it as you see, and was fishing for 

 more. When we came, we found her just at it : 

 but we were here very early, we were here an hour 

 before sunrise, and have given her no rest since 

 we came ; sure she will hardly escape all these 

 dogs and men. I am to have the skin if we kill 

 her. 



Ven. Why, sir, what is the skin worth? 



Hunt. It is worth ten shillings to make gloves ; 

 the gloves of an otter are the best fortification for 

 your hands that can be thought on against wet 

 weather. 



Pise. I pray, honest huntsman, let me ask you 

 a pleasant question : do you hunt a beast or a 

 fish? 



Hunt. Sir, it is not in my power to resolve you. 

 I leave it to be resolved by the College of Carthu- 

 sians, who have made vows never to eat flesh. 

 But I have heard the question hath been debated 

 among many great clerks, and they seem to differ 

 about it ; yet most agree that her tail is fish. And 

 if her body be fish too, then I may say that a fish 

 will walk upon land ; for an otter does so some- 

 times five or six or ten miles in a night, to catch 

 for her young ones, or to glut herself with fish. 

 And I can tell you that pigeons will fly forty miles 

 for a breakfast. But, sir, I am sure the otter de- 

 vours much fish, and kills and spoils much more 

 than he eats ; and I can tell you that this dog- 

 fisher, for so the Latins call him, can smell a fish 

 6 



