126 THE COMPLETE ANGLER, 



that one general name of spider. And it is so with many 

 kinds of fish, and of trouts especially, which differ in their 

 bigness and shape and spots and colour. 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 and titmouse will have 

 twenty young ones at a time, 4 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. 



PlSC. 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 more 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 labour 

 and your patience ? 



VEN. On my word, master, this is a gallant trout : what 

 shall we do with him ? 



PlSC. Marry, e'en eat him to supper: we'll go to my 

 hostess, from whence we came ; she told me, as I was going 

 out of door, that my brother Peter, a good angler and a 



