THE CHUB. 115 



at any kind of snail, or at the black bee that breeds in clay 

 walls. And he never refuses a grasshopper on the top of a 

 swift stream, nor, at the bottom, the young humble-bee that 

 breeds in long grass, and is ordinarily found by the mower 

 of it. In August and the cooler months, a yellow paste, 

 made of the strongest cheese, and pounded in a mortar, with 

 a little butter and saffron, so much of it as, being beaten 

 small, will turn it to a lemon colour. And some make a 

 paste, for the winter months, at which time the chub is ac- 

 counted best (for then it is observed that the forked bones 

 are lost, or turned into a kind of gristle, especially if he be 

 baked), of cheese and turpentine. He will bite also at a 

 minnow, or pcnk, as a trout will : of which I shall tell you 

 more hereafter, and of divers other baits. But take this for 

 a rule, that, in hot weather, he is to be fished for towards 

 the mid-water, or near the top ; and in colder weather 

 nearer the bottom. And if you fish for him on the top, 

 with a beetle or any fly, then be sure to let your line be 

 very long and to keep out of sight. And having told you 

 that his spawn is excellent meat, and that the head of a 

 large chcvcn, the throat being well washed, is the best part 

 of him, I will say no more of this fish at the present, but 

 wish you may catch the next you fish for. 



But, lest you may judge me too nice in urging to have 

 the chub dressed so presently after he is taken, I will com- 

 mend to your consideration how curious former times have 

 been in the like kind. 



You shall read in Seneca his " Natural Questions," lib. iii. 

 cap. 17, that the ancients were so curious in the newness 

 of their fish, that that seemed not new enough that was not 

 put alive into the guest's hand ; and he says that to that 



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