THE THIRD DAY. 



CHAP. IV. Observations of the NATURE and BREEDING of the 

 TROUT, and how to fish for him. And the Milkmaid's Song. 



PISCATOR. 



TPHE Trout is a fish highly valued both in this and foreign 

 nations. He may be justly said, as the old poet said of 

 wine, and we English say of venison, to be a generous fish : ?. 

 fish that is so like the buck that he also has his seasons ; for it 

 is observed, that he comes in and goes out of season with the 

 stag and buck. Gesner says his name is of a German offspring, 

 and says he is a fish that feeds clean and purely, in the swiftest 

 streams, and on the hardest gravel ; and that he may justly 

 contend with all fresh-water fish, as the Mullet may with all 

 sea-fish, for precedency and daintiness of taste, and that, being 

 in right season, the most dainty palates have allowed prece- 

 dency to him. 



And before I go further in my discourse, let me tell you that 

 you are to observe, that, as there be some barren does, that are 

 good in summer, so there be some barren Trouts that are good 

 in winter ; but there are not many that are so, for usually they 

 be in their perfection in the month of May, and decline with 

 the buck. Now you are to take notice, that in several coun- 

 tries, as in Germany and in other parts, compared to ours, fish 

 do differ much in their bigness, and shape, and other ways, 

 and so do Trouts. It is well known that in the Lake Leman, 

 the Lake of Geneva, there are Trouts taken of three cubits 

 long, as is affirmed by Gesner, a writer of good credit; and 

 Mercator says, the Trouts that are taken in the Lake of Geneva 

 are a great part of the merchandise of that famous city. And 



