ANCIENT ANGLING AUTHORS 133 



Would I might walk in Woods and Forrests long, 

 In whose cool Bowers the Birds sing many a song ; 

 And in the Verdant Meadows fresh and green, 

 Would I might sit and Court the Summers Queen. 



Sicoptat, R. N. 



In the first chapter, " Of the Name and Nature of a 

 Pike," Nobbes thus illustrates the doctrine of the 

 survival of the fittest : 



This Commonwealth among the Fishes, is much 

 like Mr Hobbes's State of Nature, which is but 

 Status Belli, the Great Ones always devour the 

 less ; such is the Government, or rather Anarchy in 

 the Waters, where might will be sure to overcome 

 right, and the weakest go still to the Walls. 



The second chapter treats " Of the Parts and 

 Lineaments of a Pike," and in the third chapter, " Of 

 the Age and Growth of a Pike," the rapid growth of 

 pike in a brook or river is noted : 



Jacks or Pickerills grow faster than great ones, and 

 I have observed in a cleer and springing Brook, that 

 a Jack spawn'd in March will take a Bait in October 

 following, and will be increased to Eighteen Inches 

 the next March. In standing water, as Motes and 

 Ponds, he grows nothing so fast ; for to try the 

 experiment, I have taken one out with a Cast-net in 

 May, Measured him and Mark'd him on his Tail, and 

 about Michaelmas I have taken the same fish, as 

 appear'd by the Mark, and then measured him again 

 and he hath not encreased in length above two 

 Inches, and very little in Breadth. A River Fish will 

 grow very fast till he come to be 24 or near 30 

 Inches, then he stands a little more at astay, and 

 spreads himself in thickness ; after that he will grow 



