THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 265 



CHAPTER XI7. 



Observations of the BARBEL ; and Directions how to 

 Jish for him. 



PlSCATOR. 



THE Barbel is so called, says Gesner, by reason of 

 his barb or wattles at his mouth, which are under his 

 nose or chaps. He is one of those leather-mouthed 

 fishes that I told you of, that does very seldom break 

 his hold if he be once hooked : but he is so strong, 

 that he will often break both rod and line, if he proves 

 to be a big one. 



But the Barbel, though he be of a fine shape, and 

 looks big : yet he is not accounted the best fish to 

 eat, neither for his wholesomeness, nor his taste: but 

 the male is reputed much better than the female, whose 

 spawn is very hurtful, as I will presently declare to 

 you. 



They flock together like sheep. And are at the 

 worst in April, about which time they spawn : but 

 quickly grow to be in season. He is able to live in the 

 strongest swifts of the water: and, in summer, they 

 love the shallowest and sharpest streams ; and love to 

 lurk under weeds ; and to teed on gravel against a 

 rising ground ; and will root and dig in the sands with 

 his nose, like a hog, and, there, nests himself; yet, 

 sometimes, he retires to deep and swift [currents near] 

 bridges, or flood-gates, or weirs ; where he will nest 

 himself, amongst piles, or in hollow places, and take 

 such hold of moss or weeds, that be the water never so 

 swift, it is not able to force him from the place that he 

 contends for. This is his constant custom, in sum- 

 mer, when he and most living creatures sport them- 

 selves in the sun : but at the approach of winter, 

 then he forsakes the swift streams and shallow waters ; 

 and, by degrees, retires to those parts of the river that 



