266 THE COMPLETE ANGLEft. PART I. 



are quiet and deeper : in "which places, and, I think, 

 about that time, f April J he spawns, and, as I have 

 formerly told you, with the help of the melter, hides 

 his spawn or eggs in holes, which they, both, dig in 

 the gravel ; and then they mutually labour to cover it 

 with (he same sand, to prevent it from being devoured 

 by other fish. 



There be such store of this fish in the river Danube, 

 that Rondeletius says, they may in some places of it, 

 and in some months of the year, be taken, by those 

 that dwell near to the river, with their hands, eight or 

 ten load at a time. He says, They begin to be 

 good in May, and that they cease to be so in August : 

 but it is found to be otherwise, in this nation. But 

 thus far we agree with him, That the spawn of a Bar- 

 bel, if it be not poison, as he says, yet that it is 

 dangerous meat, and especially in the month of May ; 

 which is so certain, that Gesner and Gasius * declare, 

 it had an ill effect upon them, even to the endangering 

 of their lives t. 



This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape, with 

 smallscales, which are placed after a most exact and 

 curious manner : 



* Of this person,! can no where find any account. 



f Though the spawn of the Barbel is know to be of a poisonous 

 Mature, yet it is often taken by country people medicinally ; who find it, 

 at once, a most powerful emetic and cathartic. And, notwithstanding 



