The Compleat ^Angler 



months, at which time the chub is 

 accounted best (for then it is ob- 

 served that the forked bones are 

 lost, or turned into a kind of gristle, 

 especially if he be baked), of cheese 

 and turpentine. He will bite also 

 at a minnow, or penk, as a trout 

 will : of which I shall tell you more 

 hereafter, and of divers other baits. 

 But take this for a rule, that, in hot 

 weather, he is to be fished for towards 

 the mid-water, or near the top ; and 

 in colder weather nearer the bottom. 

 And if you fish for him on the top, 

 with a beetle or any fly, then be sure 

 to let your line be very long, and 

 .keep out of sight. And having told 

 you that his spawn is excellent meat, 

 and that the head of a large cheven, 

 the throat being well washed, is the 

 best part of him, I will say no more 

 of this fish at the present, but wish 

 you may catch the next you fish 

 for. 



But, lest you may judge me too 

 nice in urging to have the chub 

 dressed so presently after he is taken, 

 I will commend to your considera- 

 tion how curious former times have 

 been in the like kind. 



You shall read in Seneca, his 

 Natural Questions (Lib. 3, Cap. 17,) 

 that the ancients were so curious in 

 the newness of their fish, that that 

 seemed not new enough that was 

 not put alive into the guest's hand ; 



77 



WALTHAM 

 ABBEY 



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