ISO THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



vies must also be cut very small, and mixed with good butter 

 and salt ; having done this, then pull his skin over him all but 

 his head, which you are to cut off, to the end you may tie his 

 skin about that part where his head grew ; and it must be so 

 tied as to keep all his moisture within his skin : and having done 

 this, tie him with tape or packthread to a spit, and roast him 

 leisurely, and baste him with water and salt till his skin breaks, 

 and then with butter ; and having roasted him enough, let what 

 was put into his belly, and what he drips, be his sauce. 



S. F.* 



When I go to dress an eel thus, I wish he were as long and 

 big as that which was caught in Peterborough river in the year 

 1C67, which was a yard and three quarters long. If you will 

 not believe me, then go and see at one of the coffee-houses in 

 King-street in Westminster. 



But now let me tell you, that though the eel thus dressed be 

 noi only excellently good, but more harmless than any other 

 way ; yet it is certain, that physicians account the eel dangerous 

 meat ;f I will advise you, therefore, as Solomon says, of honey, 

 " Hast thou found it, eat no more than is sufficient, lest thou sur- 

 feit ; for it is not good to eat much honey.":}: And let me add 

 this, that the uncharitable Italian bids us "give eels and no wine 

 to our enemies." 



* Neither the instructions for dressing the eel, nor the observations oti 

 the flounder, the char, and the guiniad, given here, occur in the first 

 edition. 



f The extreme grossness of the eel's flesh is the reason of its unhealth- 

 fulness. Among the curious fancies respecting the medicinal qiialities of 

 the eel, is one of Pliny's, gravely vouched for by Galen, Dc Remcdiis 

 Parabilibus (iii., p. 540, ed. Kiihn), that w'me in which eels have been 

 suflbcated cures a habit of drunkenness. On the other hand, in The Sa 

 lernian School of Regimen, we read : 



" To eat of eels will make you hoarse 

 (A learned doctor doth discourse). 

 But then 'twill soon relieve the pain. 

 To drink, and drink, and drink again." — (88-91.) 



Am. Ed. 



X Proverbs xxv., IG. Tlie text is not accurately (juoted. 



