64 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



the spring or summer, when the sun hath warmed both the earth 

 and water, and made it fit for generation. And you are to note, 

 that he continues many months out of season : for it may be 

 observed of the trout that he is like the buck or ihe ox, that will 

 not be fat in many months, though he go in the very same pas- 

 ture that horses do, which will be fat in one month ; and so you 

 may observe, that most other fishes recover strength, and grow 

 sooner fat and in season, than the trout doth. 



And next you are to note, that till the sun gets to such a height 

 as to warm the earth and the water, the trout is sick and lean, 

 and lousy, and unwholesome : for you shall in winter find him to 

 have a big head, and then to be lank, and thin, and lean : at 

 which time many of them have sticking on them sugs, or trout- 

 lice, which is a kind of a worm, in shape like a clove or pin, 

 with a big head, and sticks close to him and sucks his moisture ; 

 those, I think, the trout breeds himself, and never thrives till he 

 free himself from them, which is when warm weather comes ; 

 and then, as he grows stronger, he gets from the dead, still 

 water, into the sharp streams, and the gravel, and there rubs off 

 these worms or lice ; and then, as he grows stronger, so he gets 

 him into swifter and swifter streams, and there lies at the watch 

 for any fly or minnow that comes near to him ; and he especially 

 loves the May-fly, which is bred of the cod-worm, or cadis ; and 

 these make the trout bold and lusty, and he is usually fatter 

 and better meat at the end of that month, than at any time of the 

 year. 



Now you are to know, that it is observed, that usually the best 

 trouts are either red or yellow ; though some, as the Fordidge 

 trout, be white and yet good ; but that is not usual : and it is a 

 note observable, that the female trout hath usually a less head, 

 and a deeper body than the male trout ; and is usually the better 

 meat : and note, that a hog-back, and a little head to either trout, 

 salmon, or any other fish, is a sign that the fish is in season.* 



• The observant an<;lcr in this country knows how the color of the trout 

 varies with his circumstances. When he is " hog-backed," it is because he 

 is fat ; and as soon as it is warm enou;;h to fish with any comfort, especially 

 after the streams are clear, tliough still full from the spring freshets, the 

 angler may righteously fill his basket from the play of the blue-dun, the 



