The Compleat <Angler 



rivers, sooner in season : and as some hollies or oaks are longer 

 before they cast their leaves, so are some trouts in rivers longer 

 before they go out of season. 



And you are to note, that there are several kinds of trouts : but 

 these several kinds are not considered but by very few men ; for 

 they go under the general name of trouts : just as pigeons do, in 

 most places ; though, it is certain, there are tame and wild pigeons ; 

 and of the tame, there be helmets and runts, and carriers and cropers; 

 and indeed too many to name. Nay, the Royal Society have found 

 and published lately, that there be thirty and three kinds of spiders ; 

 and yet all (for aught I know) go under that one general name of 

 spider. And it is so with many kinds of fish, and of trouts especially ; 

 which differ in their bigness and shape and spots and colour. The 

 great Kentish hens may be an instance, compared to other hens. 

 And, doubtless, there is a kind of small trout, which will never thrive 

 to be big ; that breeds very many more than others do, that be of a 

 larger size : which you may rather believe, if you consider that the 

 little wren and titmouse will have twenty young ones at a time, when 

 usually the noble hawk, or the musical thrassel or blackbird, exceed 

 not four or five. 



And now you shall see me try my skill to catch a trout ; and at 

 my next walking, either this evening or to-morrow morning, I will 

 give you direction how you yourself shall fish for him. 



VEN. Trust me, master, I see now it is a harder matter to catch a 

 trout than a chub : for I have put on patience, and followed you 

 these two hours, and not seen a fish stir, neither at your minnow nor 

 your worm. 



Pise. Well, scholar, you must endure worse luck some time, or 

 you will never make a good angler. But what say you now ? 

 There is a trout now, and a good one too, if I can but hold him, and 

 two or three more turns will tire him. Now you see he lies still, and 

 the sleight is to land him. Reach me that landing net ; so, sir, now 

 he is mine own, what say you now ? Is not this worth all my labour 

 and your patience ? 



VEN. On my word, master, this is a gallant trout ; what shall we 

 do with him ? 



85 



