78 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



a Grasshopper on the top of a swift stream,* nor, at the bottom, 

 the young Humble-beet that breeds in long grass, and is 

 ordinarily found by the mower of it. In August, and in 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 accounted 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 Penk, 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. J And having told you that his spawn is excellent 

 meat, and that the head of a large Cheven, 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 commend 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 end they did 

 usually keep them living in glass bottles in their dining-rooms, 

 and they did glory much, in their entertaining of friends, to have 

 that fish taken from under their table alive that was instantly to 

 be fed upon. And he says, they took great pleasure to see 

 their Mullets change to several colours, when they were dying. 

 But enough 'of this ; for I doubt I have staid too long from 

 giving you some observations of the Trout, and how to fish for 

 him, which shall take up the next of my spare time. 



* In the Thames, above Richmond, the best way of using- the Grasshop- 

 per/or Chub, is to fish with it as with an artificial'fly ; the first joints of the 

 legs must be pinched off'; and in this way, when the weed is rotten, which 

 is seldom till September, the largest Dace are taken. 



f The Bombus muscorum of naturalists. J. R. 



$ The hooks, No. 3. or 4, may be used, whipped upon a strong gut, with 

 a quill float on it. He bites so eagerly, that on taking the bait. " you may," 

 says Hawkins, " hear his jaws chop like those of a dog." J. R. 



