CHAP. XIIL] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 183 



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. S. F. 



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 believe 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, 

 Prov. xxv. 1 6, " Hast thou found it, eat no more than is suffi- 

 cient, 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, 

 that 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 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 thejse 

 are not so proper to be talked of by me, because they make us 

 Anglers no sport ; therefore I will let them alone, as the Jewi 

 do, to whom they are forbidden by their law. 



And, Scholar, there is also a FLOUNDER, a sea-fish, which 

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



