The Compleat ^Angler 



natural course carries them to the tops of 

 many high mountains, as we see by several 

 springs breaking forth on the tops of the 

 highest hills ; and this is also witnessed 

 by the daily trial and testimony of several 

 miners. 



Nay, the increase or those 



increase or tnose creatures 



that are bred and fed in the water is not [Sjfe^lpi^p 

 , . Sj.^^51 m&t 



only more and more miraculous, but more 



advantageous to man, not only for the 

 lengthening of his life, but for preventing 

 of sickness, for it is observed by the most 

 learned physicians, that the casting off of 

 Lent and other fish days (which hath not 

 only given the lie to so many learned, 

 pious, wise founders of colleges, for which 

 we should be ashamed) hath doubtless been 

 the chief cause of those many putrid, 

 shaking, intermitting agues, unto which 

 this nation of ours is now more subject 

 than those wiser countries that feed on 

 herbs, salads, and plenty of fish ; of which 

 it is observed in story, that the greatest 

 part of the world now do. And it may 

 be fit to remember that Moses (Lev. xi. 9, 

 Deut. xiv. 9) appointed fish to be the 

 chief diet for the best commonwealth that 

 ever yet was. 



And it is observable, not only that there 

 are fish, as, namely, the whale, three times 

 as big as the mighty elephant, that is so 

 fierce in battle, but that the mightiest 

 feasts have been of fish. The Romans in 

 the height of their glory have made fish 

 the mistress of all their entertainments ; 

 they have had music to usher in their 



37 



