CHAP. in. THE THIRD DAY. 55 



mower of it. In August, and in the cooler months, a yellow 

 paste made of the strongest cheese, and pounded in a mortar, 

 with a little butter and saffron, so much of it, as being beaten 

 small, will turn it to a lemon colour. And some make a paste, 

 for the winter months, at which time the chub is accounted best 

 (for then it is observed that the forked bones are lost, or turned 

 into a kind of gristle, especially if he be baked), of cheese and 

 turpentine. He will bite also at a minnow, or penk, as a trout 

 will: of which I shall tell you more hereafter, and of divers 

 other baits. But take this for a rule, that, in hot weather, he is 

 to be fished for towards the mid-water, or near the top; and in 

 colder weather nearer the bottom. And if you fish for him on 

 the top, with a beetle, or any fly, then be sure to let your line be 

 very long and to keep out of sight. And having told you that 

 his spawn is excellent meat, and that the head of a large 

 cheven, the throat being well washed, is the best part of him, I 

 will say no more of this fish at the present, but wish you may 

 catch the next you fish for. 



But, lest you may judge me too nice in urging to have the 

 chub dressed so presently after he is taken, I will commend to 

 your consideration how curious former times have been in the 

 like kind. 



You shall read in Seneca, his Natural Questions, Lib. 3, Cap. 

 17, that the ancients were so curious in the newness of their 

 fish, that that seemed not new enough that was not put alive 

 into the guest's hand ; and he says that to that end they did 

 usually keep them living in glass bottles in their dining-rooms : 

 and they did glory much in their entertaining of friends, to have 

 that fish taken from under their table alive that was instantly to 

 be fed upon And he says, they took great pleasure to see their 

 Mullets change to several colours, when they were dying. But 

 enough of this, for I doubt I have stayed too long from giving 

 you some observations of the trout, and how to fish for him, 

 which shall take up the next of my spare time. 



