13S THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART I, 



the top of a swift stream * ; nor, at the bottom, the 

 young humble bee that breeds in long grass, and is or- 

 dinarily found by the mower of it. In August) and in 

 the cooler months ; a yellow paste, made of the strong- 

 est cheese, and pounded in a mortar, with a little but- 

 ter, and saffron, so much of it as being beaten small, 

 will turn it to a lemon colour. And some make a paste, 

 for the winter months at which time the Chub is ac* 

 counted best ; for then it is observed, that the forked 

 bones are lost, or turned into a kind of gristle, especially 

 if he be baked of cheese and turpentine. He will bite 

 also at a minnow, or penk ; as a Trout will : of which I 

 shall tell you more hereafter, and of divers other baits. 

 But take this for a rule, That, in hot weather, he is to be 

 fished for towards the mid-water, or near the top ; and 

 in colder weather, nearer the bottom. And if you fish 

 for him on the top, with a beetle, or any fly ; then, be 

 sure to let your line be very long, and to keep out of 

 sight. And having told you, that his spawn is excel- 

 lent meat, and that the head of a large Cheven, the 

 throat being well washed, is the best part of him, I 

 will say no more of this fish at. the present, but wish 

 you may catch the next you fish for. 



But, lest you may judge me too nice in urging to have 

 the Chub dressed so presently after he is taken, I will 

 commend to your consideration how curious former 

 times have been in the like kind. 



You shall read in Seneca's Natural Questions, Lib. 

 III. Cap. 17, that the ancients were so curious in the 

 newness of their fish, that that seemed not new enough 

 that was not put alive into the guest's hand. And he 

 says, that to that end they did usually keep them living 

 in glass-bottles in their dining-rooms ; and they did 

 glory much, in their entertaining of friends, to have that 

 fish taken from under their table alive that was instantly 

 to be fed-upon. And he says, they took great pleasure 



* In the Thames, above Richmond, the best way of using the grashop- 

 per for Chub, is to fish with it as with an artificial fly ; the first joints of 

 the legs must be pinched off: and in this way when the weed is rotten, 

 which is seldom till September tilt largest Dace are taken. 



