644 LITERATURE OF SEA AND RIVER FISHING. 



Oft swiftly as he swims, his silver belly shows, 



But with such nimble sleight, that ere ye can disclose 



His shape, out of your sight like lightning he is shot. 



The Trout by Nature mark'd with many a crimson spot, 



As though she curious were in him above the rest, 



And of fresh-water fish did note him for the best ; 



The Roche, whose common kind to every flood doth fall ; 



The Chub (whose neater name), which some a Chevin call, 



Food to the tyrant Pike (most being in his power), 



Who for their numerous store he most doth them devour ; 



The lusty Salmon then, from Neptune's wat'ry realm, 



When as his season serves, stemming my tideful stream, 



Then being in his kind, in me his pleasure takes, 



(For whom the fisher then all other game forsakes) 



Which bending of himself to th' fashion of a ring, 



Above the forced wears, himself doth nimbly fling, 



And often when the net hath dragg'd him safe to land, 



Is seen by natural force to 'scape his murderer's hand ; 



Whose grain doth rise in flakes, with fatness interlarded, 



Of many a liquorish lip, that highly is regarded. 



And Humber, to whose waste I pay my wat'ry store, 



Me of her Sturgeons sends, that I thereby the more 



Should have my beauties grac'd, with something from him sent : 



Not Ancum's silvered Eel exceedeth that of Trent; 



Though the sweet-smelling Smelt be more in Thames than me, 



The Lamprey, and his less, in Severne general be ; 



The Flounder smooth and flat, in other rivers caught, 



Perhaps in greater store, yet better are not thought : 



The dainty Gudgeon, Loche, the Minnow, and the Bleake, 



Since they but little are, I little need to speak 



Of them, nor doth it fit me much of those to reck, 



Which everywhere are found in every little beck ; 



Nor of the Crayfish here, which creeps amongst my stones, 



From all the rest alone, whose spell is all his bones : 



For Carpe, the Tench, and Breame, my other store among, 



To lakes and standing pools, that chiefly do belong, 



Here scouring in my fords, feed in my waters clear 



Are muddy fishing ponds to that which they are here.*' 



In reference to this passage, it may be noted that, owing 

 to certain reasons, Trent salmon gradually became very 



