CHAP. IV.) THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 91 



pasture that horses do, which will be fat in one month ; and so 

 you may observe, that most other fishes recover strength, and 

 grow sooner fat and in season, than the Trout doth. 



And next you are to note, that till the sun gets to such a 

 height as to warm the earth and the water, the Trout is sick, 

 and lean, and lousy, and unwholesome : for you shall in winter 

 find him to have a big head, and then to be lank, and thin, and 

 lean : at which time many of them have sticking on them Sugs, 

 or Trout-lice, which is a kind of a worm, in shape like a clove 

 or pin, with a big head, and sticks close to him and sucks his 

 moisture ; those, I think, the Trout breeds himself, and never 

 thrives till he free himself from them, which is when warm 

 weather comes ; and then, as he grows stronger, he gets from 

 the dead still water into the sharp streams and the gravel, and 

 there rubs off these worms or lice ; and then, as he grows stronger, 

 so he gets him into swifter and swifter streams, and there lies at 

 the watch for any fly or minnow that comes near to him : and 

 he especially loves the May-fly, which is bred of the Cod-worm, 

 or Cadis ; and these make the Trout bold and lusty, and he is 

 usually fatter and better meat at the end of that month than at 

 any time of the year. 



Now you are to know, that it is observed that usually the 

 best Trouts are either red or yellow ; though some, as the For- 

 didge Trout, be white and yet good; but that is not usual: 

 and it is a note observable, that the Female Trout hath usually 

 a less head and a deeper body than the male Trout, and is 

 usually the better meat. And note, that a hog-back and a 

 little head, to either Trout, Salmon, or any other fish, is a sign 

 that that fish is in season. 



But yet you are to note, that as you see some willows, or 

 palm-trees, bud and blossom sooner than others do, so some 

 Trouts be in rivers sooner in season : and as some hollies or 

 oaks are longer before they cast their leaves, so are some Trouts 

 in rivers longer before they go out of season. 



And you are to note, that there are several kinds of Trouts ; 



