138 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PART i. 



about that part where his head grew : and it must be so tied as 

 to keep all his moisture within his skin : and having done this, 

 tie him with tape or packthread to a spit, and roast him leisurely, 

 and baste him with water and salt till his skin breaks, and then 

 with butter ; and having roasted him enough, let what was put 

 into his belly and what he drips be his sauce. 



When I go to dress an eel thus, I wish he were as long and 

 big as that which was caught in Peterborough river in the year 

 1667, which was a yard and three-quarters long. If you will not 

 elieve me, then go and see at one of the coffee-houses in King 

 Street, in Westminster. 



But now let me tell you, that though the eel thus dressed be 

 not only excellent good, but more harmless than any other way; 

 yet it is certain, that physicians account the eel dangerous meat : 

 I will advise you, therefore, as Solomon says of honey, " Hast 

 thou found it, eat no more than is sufficient, lest thou surfeit ; 

 for it is not good to eat much honey." And let me add this, 

 that the uncharitable Italian bids us "give eels and no wine to 

 our enemies." 



And I will beg a little more of your attention to tell you 

 Aldrovandus, and divers physicians, commend the eel very much 

 for medicine, though not for meat. But let me tell you one 

 observation, that the eel is never out of season ; as trouts, and 

 most other fish are at set times : at least most eels are not. 



I might here speak of many other fish, whose shape and 

 nature are much like the eel, and frequent both the sea and 

 fresh rivers; as namely, the lamprel, the lamprey, and the 

 lamperne : as also of the mighty conger, taken often in Severn, 

 about Gloucester : and might also tell in what high esteem many 

 of them are for the curiosity of their taste. But^these are not so 

 proper to be talked of bv me T becausg they ^a-j^ gygi^rg no 

 sport ; therefore I wW let them alone, as the Jews do, tojvhom 

 they are forbidden by^heir law. 



And, scholar, there is also a FLOUNDER, a sea-fish which will 

 wander very far into fresh rivers, and there lose himself and 

 dwell : and thrive to a hand's breadth, and almost twice so long : 

 a fish without scales, and most excellent meat : and a fish that 



