CHAPTER XVIII. OF THE MINNOW OR PENK, OF 

 THE LOACH, AND OF THE BULL-HEAD, OR 

 MILLER'S-THUMB 



PISCATOR AND VENATOR 



PISCATOR. There be also three or four other little fish that 

 I had almost forgot, that all are without scales, and may 

 for excellency of meat be compared to any fish of greatest 

 value, and largest size. They be usually full of eggs or spawn 

 all the months of Summer ; for they breed often, as 'tis observed 

 mice and many of the smaller four-footed creatures of the earth 

 do ; and as those, so these come quickly to their full growth and 

 perfection. And it is needful that they breed both often and 

 numerously, for they be, besides other accidents of ruin, both a 

 prey, and baits for other fish. And first I shall tell you of the 

 Minnow or Penk. 



The Minnow hath, when he is in perfect season and not sick, 

 which is only presently after spawning, a kind of dappled or 

 waved colour, like to a Panther, on his sides, inclining to a 

 greenish and sky-colour, his belly being milk-white, and his back 

 almost black or blackish. He is a sharp biter at a small worm, 

 and in hot weather makes excellent sport for young Anglers, or 

 boys, or women that love that recreation, and in the Spring they 

 make of them excellent Minnow-Tansies ; for being washed well 

 in salt, and their heads and tails cut off, and their guts taken 

 out, and not washed after, they prove excellent for that use, that 

 is, being fried with yolks of eggs, the flowers of cowslips, and of 

 primroses, and a little Tansie; thus used they make a dainty 

 dish of meat. 



The Loach is, as I told you, a most dainty fish, he breeds 

 and feeds in little and clear swift brooks or rills ; and lives there 

 upon the gravel, and in the sharpest streams : he grows not to 

 be above a finger long, and no thicker than is suitable to that 



147 



