THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



185 



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

 lives. 



This iish is of a fine cast and handsome shape, with small 

 scales, which are placed after a most exact and curious manner ; 

 and, as I told you, may be rather said not to be ill, than to be 

 good meat : the chub and he have, I think, both lost part of their 

 credit by ill cookery, they being reputed the worst or coarsest for 

 fresh- water fish ; but the Barbel 



affords an angler choice sport, being a lusty and a cunning fish ; 

 so lusty and cunning as to endanger the breaking of the angler's 

 line, by running his head forcibly towards any covert, or hole, 

 or bank ; and then striking at the line, to break it off with his 

 tail, as is observed by Plutarch in his book De Industria Anima- 

 lium,* and also so cunning to nibble and suck off your worm 

 close to the hook, and yet avoid the letting the hook come into 

 his mouth. 



had fed; Rondeletius, however, doubts this method of accountins; for the 

 pernicious effect. The name of Gazius is not in the first edition.— .-^m. Ed. 

 * The book of Plutarch here referred to, is the treatise De Solertia 

 Animalium, of which we have often had occasion to speak. Plutarch, 

 however, relates this of the sea-mullet, who, he says, suspecting the 

 hook, will swim about, flapping the bait with his tail and then turning 

 round to eat what he has struck off; or, if he cannot do this, he shuts his 

 mouth close, and nibbles the bait with the extremities of his lips. Oppian 

 ascribes great cunning to the Kcs-peis (which I take to be the mullet) in 

 escaping from the net. 



•* The mullet, when encircling seines inclose. 

 The fatal threads and treacherous bosom knows ; 

 Instant he rallies all his vig'rous powers. 

 And faithful aid of every nerve implores, 



