CHAPTER IV. 



OBSERVATIONS OF THE NATURE AND BREEDING OF THE 

 TROUT, AND HOW TO FISH FOR HIM; AND THE 

 MILKMAID'S SONG. 



THE Trout is a fish highly valued both in this and foreign 

 nations : he may be justly said, as the old poet said of wine, 

 and we English say of venison, to be a generous fish : a fish 

 that is so like the buck that he also has his seasons ; for it 

 is observed, that he comes in and goes out of season with 

 the stag and buck. Gesner says his name is of a German 

 offspring, and says he is a fish that feeds clean and purely, 

 in the swiftest streams, and on the hardest gravel ; and that 

 he may justly contend with all fresh-water fish, as the mullet 

 may with all sea-fish, for precedency and daintiness of taste, 

 and that being in right season, the most dainty palates have 

 allowed precedency to him. 



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