CHAPTER XIV 



Observations of the Barbel, and Directions how to Fish 

 for him. 



ISC. The Barbel is so called (says Gesner) by 

 reason of his barb or wattles at his mouth, which 

 are under his nose or chaps. He is one of those 

 leather-mouthed fishes, that I told you of, that 

 does very seldom break his hold if he be once 

 hooked : but he is so strong that he will often 

 break both rod and line, if he proves to be a big one. 

 But the barbel, though he be of a fine shape, and looks big, yet he 

 is not accounted the best fish to eat, neither for his wholesomeness 

 nor his taste : but the male is reputed much better than the female, 

 whose spawn is very hurtful, as I will presently declare to you. 



They flock together, like sheep, and are at the worst in April, 

 about which time they spawn, but quickly grow to be in season. 

 He is able to live in the strongest swifts of the water, and in summer 

 they love the shallowest and sharpest streams ; and love to lurk 

 under weeds, and to feed on gravel against a rising ground, and will 

 root and dig in the sands with his nose like a hog, and there nest 

 himself : yet sometimes he retires to deep and swift bridges, or flood- 

 gates, or weirs, where he will nest himself amongst piles, or in hollow 



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