The Compleat ^Angler 



nature) change the fresh for salt water. He that shall view the 

 wise statutes, made in the I3th of Edward I., and the like in 

 Richard III., may see several provisions made against the destruction 

 of fish ; and though I profess no knowledge of the law, yet I am 

 sure the regulation of these defects might be easily mended. But I 

 remember that a wise friend of mine did usually say, " that which is 

 everybody's business is nobody's business." If it were otherwise, 

 there could not be so many nets and fish, that are under the statute 

 size, sold daily amongst us, and of which the conservators of the 

 waters should be ashamed. 



But, above all, the taking fish in spawning-time may be said to be 

 against nature ; it is like the taking the dam on the nest when she 

 hatches her young : a sin so against nature that Almighty God hath 

 in the Levitical law made a law against it. 



But the poor fish have enemies enough besides such unnatural 

 fishermen, as namely, the otters that I spake of, the cormorant, the 

 bittern, the osprey, the sea-gull, the heron, the king-fisher, the 

 gorara, the puet, the swan, goose, ducks, and the craber, which 

 some call the water-rat : against all which any honest man might 

 make a just quarrel, but I will not, I will leave them to be quarrelled 

 with, and killed by others ; for I am not of a cruel nature, I love 

 to kill nothing but fish. 



And now to your question concerning your host ; to speak truly, 

 he is not to me a good companion ; for most of his conceits were 

 either Scripture-jests, or lascivious jests, for which I count no man 

 witty, for the devil will help a man that way inclined, to the first ; 

 and his own corrupt nature (which he always carries with him) to 

 the latter. But a companion that feasts the company with wit and 

 mirth, and leaves out the sin (which is usually mixed with them) he 

 is the man ; and indeed such a man should have his charges borne, 

 and to such company I hope to bring you this night ; for at Trout 

 Hall, not far from this place, where I purpose to lodge to-night, 

 there is usually an angler that proves good company : and Jet me 

 tell you, good company and good discourse are the very sinews of 

 virtue : but for such discourse as we heard last night, it infects 

 others ; the very boys will learn to talk and swear, as they heard 



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