CHAP. xiv. THE FOURTH DAY. 141 



scales, which are placed after a most exact and curious manner, 

 and, as I told you, may be rather said not to be ill than to be 

 good meat: the chub and he have, I think, both lost part of 

 their credit by ill cookery, they being reputed the worst or 

 coarsest of fresh-water fish. But the BARBEL affords an angler 

 choice sport, being a lusty and a cunning fish ; so lusty and 

 cunning as to endanger the breaking of the angler's line, by 

 running his head forcibly towards any covert or hole or bank, 

 and then striking at the line, to break it off with his tail, as is 

 observed by Plutarch in his book, De Industrid Animalium; 

 and also so cunning to nibble and suck off your worm close to 

 the hook, and yet avoid the letting the hook come into his 

 mouth. 



The barbel is also curious for his baits ; that is to say, that 

 they be clean and sweet ; that is to say, to have your worms 

 well scoured, and not kept in sour and musty moss, for he is a 

 curious feeder ; but at a well scoured lob-worm he will bite as 

 boldly as at any bait, and especially if, the night or two before 

 you fish for him, you shall bait the places where you intend to 

 fish for him with big worms cut into pieces; and note, that 

 none did ever overbait the place, nor fish too early or too late 

 for a barbel. And the barbel will bite also at gentles, which 

 not being too much scoured, but green, are a choice bait for 

 him ; and so is cheese, which is not to be too hard, but kept a 

 day or two in a wet linen cloth to make it tough : with this you 

 may also bait the water a day or two before you fish for the 

 barbel, and be much the likelier to catch store; and if the 

 cheese were laid in clarified honey a short time before, as 

 namely, an hour or two, you are still the likelier to catch fish : 

 some have directed to cut the cheese into thin pieces, and toast 

 it, and then tie it on the hook with fine silk : and some advise 

 to fish for the barbel with sheep's tallow and soft cheese beaten 

 or worked into a paste, and that it is choicely good in August, 

 and I believe it ; but doubtless the lob-worm well scoured, and 

 the gentle not too much scoured, and cheese ordered as I 

 have directed, are baits enough, and I think will serve in any 

 month, though I shall commend any angler that tries con- 



