CHAP, in.] THE THIRD DAY. 69 



fly, the flesh-fly, or wall-fly ; or the dor or beetle, which you may 

 find under cow-dung ; or a bob, which you will find in the same 

 place, and in time will be a beetle ; it is a short white worm, like 

 to and bigger than a gentle ; or a cod-worm ; or a case-worm ; 

 any of these will do very well to fish in such a manner. 



And after this manner you may catch a Trout in a hot evening : 

 when, as you walk by a brook, and shall see or hear him leap at 

 flies, then, if you get a grasshopper, put it on your hook, with 

 your line about two yards long ; standing behind a bush or tree 

 where his hole is : and make your bait stir up and down on the 

 top of the water. You may, if you stand close, be sure of a bite, 

 but not sure to catch him, for he is not a leather-mouthed fish. 

 And after this manner you may fish for him with almost any kind 

 of live fly, but especially with a grasshopper. , 



VENATOR. But before you go further, I pray, good master, 

 what mean you by a leather-mouthed fish ? 



PISCATOR. By a leather-mouthed fish, I mean such as have 

 their teeth in their throat, as the Chub or Cheven ; and so 

 the Barbel, the Gudgeon, and Carp, and divers others have. And 

 the hook being stuck into the leather, or skin, of the mouth of 

 such fish, does very seldom or never lose its hold : but on the 

 contrary, a Pike, a Perch, or Trout, and so some other fish, which 

 have not their teeth in their throats, but in their mouths, which 

 you shall observe to be very full of bones, and the skin very thin, 

 and little of it. I say, of these fish the hook never takes so sure 

 hold but you often lose your fish, unless he have gorged it. 



VENATOR. I thank you, good master, for this observation. 

 But now what shall be done with my Chub or Cheven that I have 

 caught ? 



PISCATOR. Marry, Sir, it shall be given away to some poor 

 body ; for I'll warrant you I'll give you a Trout for your supper : 

 and it is a good beginning of your art to offer your first-fruits to 

 the poor, who will both thank you and God for it, 1 which I see 



VARIATION. 



1 To the poor, who will both thank God and you for it. 



And now let's walk towards the water again, and as I go I'll tell you, when you catch 

 your next Chub, how to dress it as this was. 



Viator. Come, good Master, I long to be going and learn your directions. 



Piscator. You must dress it, or see it dressed thus : When you have scaled him, 

 wash him very clean, cut off his tail and fins ; and wash him not after you gut him, but 

 chine or cut him through the middle as a salt fish is cut, then give him four or five 

 scotches with your knife, broil him upon wood, coal, or charcoal ; but as he is broiling, 

 baste him often with butter that shall be choicely good ; and put good store of salt into 

 your butter, or salt him gently as you broil or baste him ; and bruise or cut very small 

 into your butter a little thyme, or some other sweet herb that is in the garden where you 

 eat him : thus used, it takes away the waterish taste which the Chub or Cheven has, and 



