THE BREAM. 



Gesner reports, that in Poland a certain and a great 

 number of large breams were put into a pond, which in the 

 next following winter were frozen up into one entire ice, 

 and not one drop of water remaining, nor one of these fish 

 to be found, though they were diligently searched for ; and 

 yet the next spring, when the ice was thawed, and the 

 weather warm, and fresh water got into the pond, he affirms 

 they all appeared again. This Gesner affirms, and I quote 

 my author because it seems almost as incredible as the re- 

 surrection to an atheist ; but it may win something, in 

 point of believing it, to him that considers the breeding or 

 renovation of the silk-worm, and of many insects. And 

 that is considerable, which Sir Francis Bacon observes in 

 his " History of Life and Death," fol. 20, that there be some 

 herbs that die and spring every year, and some endure 

 longer. 1 



But though some do not, yet the French esteem this fish 

 highly, and to that end have this proverb, "He that hath 

 breams in his pond is able to bid his friend welcome." And 

 it is noted, that the best part of a bream is his belly and head. 



Some say that breams and roaches will mix their eggs 

 and melt together, and so there is in many places a bastard 

 breed of breams, that never come to be either large or 

 good, but very numerous. 2 



The baits good to catch this bream are many. i. Paste 

 made of brown bread and honey, gentles, or the brood of 

 wasps that be young, and then not unlike gentles, and 

 should be hardened in an oven, or dried on a tile before the 

 fire to make them tough ; or there is at the root of docks 

 or flags or rushes, in watery places, a worm not unlike a 

 maggot, at which tench will bite freely. Or he will bite at 



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