72 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



But, above all, the taking fish in spawning time may be said 

 to be against nature : it is like the taking the dam on the nest when 

 she hatches her young a sin so against nature that Almighty 

 God hath, in the Levitical law, made a law against it. 



But the poor fish have enemies enough beside such unnatural 

 fishermen ; as, namely, the otters that I spake of, the Cormorant, 

 the Bittern, the Osprey, the Sea-gull, the Heron, the King-fisher, 

 the Gorara,*the Puet,fthe Swan, Goose, Duck, and the Craber,* 

 which some call the Water-rat : against all which any honest man 

 may make a just quarrel, but I will not ; I will leave them to 

 be quarrelled with and killed by others ; for I am not of a cruel 

 nature I love to kill nothing but fish. 



And, now, to your question concerning your host, to spep 1 * 

 truly, he is not to me a good companion : for most of his conceits 

 were either Scripture jests, or lascivious jests, for which I count 

 no man witty : for the devil will help a man, that way inclined, 

 to the first ; and his own corrupt nature, which he always carries 

 with him, to the latter. But a companion that feasts the company 

 with wit and mirth, and leaves out the sin which is usually mixed 

 with them, he is the man ; and, indeed, such a companion should 

 have his charges borne ; and to such company I hope to bring 

 you this night ; for at Trout Hall, not far from this place, where 

 I purpose to lodge to-night, there is usually an angler that proves 

 good company. And, let me tell you, good company arid good 

 discourse are the very sinews of virtue. But for such discourse 

 as we heard last night, it infects others ; the very boys will learn 

 to talk and swear, as they heard mine host, and another of the 

 company that shall be nameless. I am sorry the other is a 

 gentleman for less religion will not save their souls than a 

 beggar's I think more will be required at the last great day. 

 Well, you know v\l at otn fie is able to do ; and I know what 

 the poet says in the like case, which is worthy to be noted by 

 all parents and people of civility, 



many a one 

 Owes to his country his religion ; 

 And in another would as strongly grow, 

 Had but his nurse or mother taught him so. 



This is reason put. into verse, and worthy the consideration 

 of a wise man. But of this no more ; for though I love civility 

 yet I hate severe censures. I 'Jl to my own art, arid I doubt no't 



any one of them would rover a half-frown piece. The indictment was 

 for an affray and an assault on a person authorized to seize unstatutable 

 nets ; and the sentence of the offender, a year's imprisonment in Newgate. 



* I do not exactly know what animals are meant by " Gorara" and 

 "Craber." J. R. 



f Probably the Peewit Gull (Larus rididundus, LEISLEH.) J. R. 



