104 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART i. 



And you are yet to observe farther, that the he-salmon is 

 usually bigger than the spawner; and that he is more kipper, 

 and less able to endure a winter in the fresh water than she is : 

 yet she is, at that time of looking les's kipper and better, as 

 watery, and as bad meat. 



And yet you are to observe that as there is no general rule 

 without an exception, so there are some few rivers in this 

 nation that have trouts and salmons in season in winter, as it is 

 certain there be in the river Wye, in Monmouthshire, where 

 they be in season, as Camden observes, from September till 

 April. But, my scholar, the observation of this and many other 

 things, I must in manners omit, because they will prove too 

 large for our narrow compass of time, and therefore I shall 

 next fall upon my directions how to fish for this salmon. 



And for that, first you shall observe, that usually he stays not 

 long in a place, as trouts will, but, as I said, covets still to go 

 nearer the spring head ; and that he does not, as the trout and 

 many other fish, lie near the water-side, or bank, or roots of 

 trees, but swims in the deep and broad parts of the water, and 

 usually in the middle, and near the ground, and that there you 

 are to fish for him, and that he is to be caught as the trout is, 

 with a worm, a minnow, which some call a penk, or with a fly. 



And you are to observe that he is very seldom observed to 

 bite at a minnow, yet sometimes he will, and not usually at a 

 fly ; but more usually at a worm, and then most usually at a lob 

 or garden-worm, which should be well scoured, that is to say, 

 kept seven or eight days in moss before you fish with them: 

 and if you double your time of eight into sixteen, twenty, or 

 more days, it is still the better; for the worms will still be 

 clearer, tougher, and more lively, and continue so longer upon 

 your hook ; and they may be kept longer by keeping them 

 cool and in fresh moss, and some advise to put camphor 

 into it. 



Note also, that many used to fish for a salmon with a ring of 

 wire on the top of their rod, through which the line may run to 

 as great a length as is needful when he is hooked. And to that 

 end, some use a wheel about the middle of their rod, or near 



