1 92 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART i. 



an angler ; and this noble emulation I wish to you, and all young 

 anglers. 



PISCATOR. There be also three or four other little fish that I 

 had almost forgot ; * that are all without scales ; and may for 

 xvill exce ll encv of meat, be compared to any fish of 

 Of the Minnow,' greatest value and largest size. They be usually 

 Siiii-Heaii o a Mii- ^ f e SS s or spawn, all the months of summer; 

 ler's - Thumb ; and for they breed often, as 'tis observed mice and many 

 of the smaller four-footed creatures of the earth 

 do ; and as those, so these come quickly to their full growth and 

 perfection. 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 you 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 panther, on its sides, incliivng to a 

 greenish or sky colour ; his- belly being milk white ; and nis 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 Minnow-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 yolk of eggs, the flowers of cowslips and of prim- 

 roses, and a little tansy ; 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 finger long, and no thicker than is suitable to that length. 

 The Loach is not unlike the shape of the Eel: he has a beard or 

 wattles 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 Gesner, and other 



* Since Walton wrote, there has been brought into England from Germany, a species 

 of small fish, resembling Carp in shape and colour, called Crucians, with which many 

 ponds are now plentifully stocked : and from China, those beautiful creatures Gold and 

 Silver Fish; which are usually kept in ponds, basins, and small reservoirs of water ; to 

 which they are a delightful ornament." It is now a common practice to keep them in a 

 large glass vessel like a punch-bowl, with fine gravel strewed at the bottom ; frequently 

 changing the water, and feeding them with bread and gentles. Those who can take 

 more pleasure in angling for, than in beholding them, which I confess I could never do, 

 may catch them with gentles : but though costly, they are but coarse food. H. 



