Compleat ^Angler 



book of Dubravius, unto a friend, who replied, "It was as 

 improbable as to have the mouse scratch out the cat's eyes." But 

 he did not consider that there be fishing frogs (which the 

 Dalmatians call the water-devil) of which I might tell you as 

 wonderful a story ; but I shall tell you, that 'tis not to be doubted, 

 but that there be some frogs so fearful of the water-snake, that, 

 when they swim in a place in which they fear to meet with him, 

 they then get a reed across into their mouths, which, if they two 

 meet by accident, secures the frog from the strength and malice of 

 the snake ; and note, that the frog usually swims the fastest of the 

 two. 



And let me tell you, that as there be water and land frogs, so 

 there be land and water-snakes. Concerning which, take this 

 observation, that the land -snake breeds and hatches her eggs, which 

 become young snakes, in some old dunghill, or a like hot place ; 

 but the water-snake, which is not venomous (and, as I have been 

 assured by a great observer of such secrets) does not hatch, but 

 breed her young alive, which she does not then forsake, but bides 

 with them, and in case of danger will take them into her mouth 

 and swim away from any apprehended danger, and then let them 

 out again when she thinks all danger to be passed ; these be accidents 

 that we anglers sometimes see, and often talk of. 



But whither am I going ? I had almost lost myself, by remembering 

 the discourse of Dubravius. I will therefore stop here, and tell you, 

 according to my promise, how to catch the pike. 



His feeding is usually of fish or frogs, and sometimes a weed of 

 his own called pickerel- weed, of which I told you some think pikes 

 are bred ; for they have observed that where none have been put 

 into ponds, yet they have there found many, and that there has 

 been plenty of that weed in those ponds, and that that weed both 

 breeds and feeds them ; but whether those pikes so bred will ever 

 breed by generation as the others do, I shall leave to the disquisitions 

 of men of more curiosity and leisure than I profess myself to have ; 

 and shall proceed to tell you that you may fish for a pike either 

 with a ledger or a walking -bait ; and you are to note, that I 

 call that a ledger-bait which is fixed or made to rest in one certain 



