CHAPTER IV. 



OBSERVATIONS OF THE NATURE AND BREEDING OF 

 THE TROUT, AND HOW TO FISH FOR HIM. AND 

 THE MILKMAID'S SONG. 



pISCATOR. The trout is a fish highly valued 

 both in this and foreign nations. He may be 

 justly said, as the old poet said of wine, and we 

 English say of venison, to be a generous fish, 

 a fish that is so like the buck that he also has his 

 seasons, for it is observed that he comes in and 

 goes out of season with the stag and buck. Gesner 

 says his name is of German offspring, and he says 

 he is a fish that feeds clean and purely in the 

 swiftest streams and on the hardest gravel, and 

 that he may justly contend with all fresh-water 

 fish, as the mullet may with all sea-fish, for prece- 

 dency and daintiness of taste, and that being in 

 right season, the most dainty palates have allowed 

 precedency to him. 



And before I go further into my discourse let 

 me tell you that you are to observe that as there 

 be some barren does that are good in summer, so 



