84 THE COMPLETE ANGLER, 



Pise. Sir, your request is granted, and I shall be 

 right glad, both to exchange such a courtesy, and 

 also to enjoy your company. 



Ven. Well, now let 's go to your sport of an- 

 gling- 



Pise. Let 's be going with all my heart. God 

 keep you all, gentlemen, and send you meet this 

 day with another bitch-otter, and kill her merrily, 

 and all her young ones too. 



Ven. Now, Piscator, where will you begin to 

 fish? 



Pise. We are not yet come to a likely place ; I 

 must walk a mile further yet before I begin. 



Ven. Well, then, I pray, as we walk, tell me 

 freely how do you like your lodging, and mine host 

 and the company ! Is not mine host a witty 

 man? 



Pise. Sir, I will tell you presently what I think 

 of your host ; but first I will tell you, I am glad 

 these otters were killed, and I am sorry there are 

 no more otter-killers ; for I know that the want of 

 otter-killers, and the not keeping the fence-months 

 for the preservation of fish, will in time prove the 

 destruction of all rivers. And those very few that 

 are left, that make conscience of the laws of the 

 nation, and of keeping days of abstinence, will be 

 forced to eat flesh, or suffer more inconveniences 

 than are yet foreseen. 



Ven. Why, sir, what be those that you call the 

 fence-months? 



