1 86 



THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



[.PART I. 



deeper : in which places, and I think about that time, he spawns ; 

 and, as I have formerly told you, with the help of the melter, 

 hides his spawn or eggs in holes, which they both dig in the 

 gravel : and then they mutually labor to cover it with the same 

 sand, to prevent it from being devoured by other fish. 



There be such store of this fish in the river Danube, that 

 Rondeletius says they may in some places of it, and in some 

 months in the year, be taken by those that dwell near to the 

 river, with their hands, eight or ten load at a time. He says, 

 they begin to be good in May, and that they cease to be so in 

 August, but it is found to be otherwise in this nation : but thus 

 far we agree with him, that the spawn of a Barbel, if it be not 

 poison, as he says, yet that it is dangerous meat, and especially 

 in the month of May ; which is so certain, that Gesner and 

 Gasius declare it had an ill effect upon them, even to the en- 

 dangering of their lives. 



This fish is of a fine cast and handsome shape, with small 

 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 ; 

 80 lusty and cunning as to endanger the breaking of the Angler's 



