OBSERVATIONS OF THE TENCH 



and alive, for the good of mankind. But I will meddle no more 

 with that, my honest humble art teaches no such boldness ; 

 there are too many foolish meddlers in physic and divinity, that 

 think themselves fit to meddle with hidden secrets, and so bring 

 destruction to their followers. But I '11 not meddle with them 

 any farther than to wish them wiser; and shall tell you next, 

 for, I hope, I may be so bold, that the Tench is the physician 

 of fishes, for the Pike especially ; and that the Pike, being 

 either sick or hurt, is cured by the touch of the Tench. And 

 it is observed, that the tyrant Pike will not be a wolf to his 

 physician, but forbears to devour him though he be never so 

 hungry. 



This fish, that carries a natural balsam in him to cure both 

 himself and others, loves yet to feed in very foul water, and 

 amongst weeds. And yet I am sure he eats pleasantly, and, 

 doubtless, you will think so too, if you taste him. And I shall 

 therefore proceed to give you some few, and but a few, direc- 

 tions how to catch this Tench, of which I have given you these 

 observations. 



He will bite at a Paste made of brown bread and honey, or 

 at a Marsh-worm, or a Lob-worm ; he inclines very much to any 

 paste with which tar is mixed, and he will bite also at a smaller 

 worm, with his head nipped off, and a Cod-worm put on the 

 hook before that worm ; and I doubt not but that he will also 

 in the three hot months, for in the nine colder he stirs not 

 much, bite at a Flag- worm, or at a Green Gentle, but can 

 positively say no more of the Tench, he being a fish that I have 

 not often angled for, but I wish my honest Scholar may, and 

 be ever fortunate when he fishes. 



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