The Compleat ^Angler 



The physicians make the galls and stones in the heads of carps to 

 be very medicinable. But 'tis not to be doubted but that in Italy 

 they make great profit of the spawn of carps, by selling it to the 

 Jews, who make it into red caviare ; the Jews not being by their 

 law admitted to eat of cavaire made of the sturgeon, that being a 

 fish that wants scales, and (as may appear in Lev. 1 1 ) by them reputed 

 to be unclean. 



Much more might be said out of him, and out of Aristotle, which 

 Dubravius often quotes in his Discourse of Fishes ; but it might 

 rather perplex than satisfy you ; and therefore I shall rather choose 

 to direct you how to catch, than spend more time in discoursing 

 either of the nature or the breeding of this carp, or of any more 

 circumstances concerning him ; but yet I shall remember you of 

 what I told you before, that he is a very subtle fish, and hard to be 

 caught. 



And my first direction is, that if you will fish for a carp, you 

 must put on a very large measure of patience ; especially to fish for 

 a river carp : I have known a very good fisher angle diligently four 

 or six hours in a day, for three or four days together, for a river 

 carp, and not have a bite : and you are to note that in some ponds 

 it is as hard to catch a carp as in a river ; that is to say, where they 

 have store of feed, and the water is of a clayish colour ; but you are 

 to remember that I have told you there is no rule without an excep- 

 tion ; and therefore being possessed with that hope and patience 

 which I wish to all fishers, especially to the carp-angler, I shall tell 

 you with what bait to fish for him. But first, you are to know that 

 it must be either early or late ; and let me tell you that in hot 

 weather (for he will seldom bite in cold) you cannot be too early or 

 too late at it. And some have been so curious as to say the tenth of 

 April is a fatal day for carps. 



The carp bites either at worms or at paste ; and of worms I think 

 the bluish marsh or meadow worm is best ; but possibly another 

 worm not too big may do as well, and so may a green gentle : and 

 as for pastes, there are almost as many sorts as there are medicines 

 for the toothache ; but doubtless sweet pastes are the best ; I mean 

 pastes made with honey or with sugar ; which, that you may the better 



165 



