92 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART 1 



but these several kinds are not considered but by very few men, 

 for they go under the general name of Trouts : just as Pigeons 

 do in most places; though it is certain there are tame and 

 wild Pigeons : and of the tame, there be Helmits and Runts, 

 and Carriers and Cropers, and indeed too many to name. 

 Nay, the Royal Society have found and published lately, that 

 there be thirty and three kinds of Spiders : and yet all, for 

 aught I know, go under that one general name of Spider. 

 And 't is so with many kinds of fish, and of Trouts especially, 

 which differ in their bigness, and shape, and spots, and color. 

 The great Kentish Hens may be an instance compared to other 

 hens ; and doubtless there is a kind of small Trout, which will 

 never thrive to be big, that breeds very many more than others 

 do that be of a larger size : which you may rather believe, if 

 you consider that the little Wren or Titmouse will have twenty 

 young ones at a time, when usually the noble Hawk, or the 

 musical Thrassel or Blackbird, exceed not four or five. 



And now you shall see me try my skill to catch a Trout, and 

 at my next walking, either this evening or to-morrow morning, 

 I will give you direction how you yourself shall fish for him. 



VEN. Trust me, Master, I see now it is a harder matter to 

 catch a Trout than a Chub : for I have put on patience, and 

 followed you these two hours, and not seen a fish stir, neither 

 at your minnow nor your worm. 



Pise. Well, Scholar, you must endure worse luck some time, 

 or you will never make a good Angler. But what say you 

 now ? there is a Trout now, and a good one too, if I can but 

 hold him, and two or three turns more will tire him. Now 

 you see he lies still, and the sleight is to land him : reach me 

 that landing-net. So, Sir, now he is mine own, what say you 

 now ? is not this worth all my labor and your patience ? 



VEN. On my word, Master, this is a gallant Trout ; what 

 shall we do with him ? 



Pise. Marry, e'en eat him to supper : we '11 go to my Host- 

 ess, from whence we came : she told me, as I was going out of 



