THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 83 



or thrives only in his head till his death.* And you are to 

 know, that he will, about (especially before) the time of his 

 spawning, get, almost miraculously, through weirs and ilood- 

 gates, against the streams ; even through such high and swift 

 places as is almost incredible. Next, that the Trout usually 

 spawns about October or November, but in some rivers a little 

 sooner or later ; which is the more observable, because most other 

 fish spawn in the spring or summer, when the sun hath warmed 

 both the earth and water, and made it fit for generation. And 

 you are to note, that he continues many months out of season ; 

 for it may be observed of the Trout, that he is like the Buck or 

 the Ox, that will not be fat in many months, though he go in 

 the very same pasture that Horses do, which will be fat in one 

 month. And so you may observe, that most other fishes recover 

 strength, and grow sooner fat and in season, than the Trout doth. 



And next you are to note, that till the sun gets to such a 

 height as to warm the earth and the water, the Trout is sick, and 

 lean, and lousy, and unwholesome ; for you shall, in winter, find 

 him to have a big head, and then to be lank, and thin, and 

 lean ; at which time many of them have sticking on them Sugs, 

 or Trout-lice ; which is a kind of a worm, in shape live a clove, 

 or pin with a big head, and sticks close to him, and sucks his 

 moisture : those, I think, the Trout breeds himself; and never 

 thrives till he free himself from them, which is when warm 

 weather comes ; and then, as he grows stronger, he gets from 

 the dead still water into the sharp streams and the gravel, and 

 there rubs off" these worms or lice ; and then, as he grows 

 stronger, so he gets him into swifter and swifter streams, and 

 there lies at the watch for any Fly or Minnow that comes near 

 to him ; and he especially loves the May-fly, which is bred of 

 the Cod- worm, or Cadis ; and these make the Trout bold and 

 lusty, and he is usually fatter and better meat at the end of the 

 month [May] than at any time of the year. 



Now you are to know that it is observed, that usually 

 the best Trouts are either red or yellow ; though some (as the 

 Fordidge Trout) be white and yet good ; but that is not usual : 

 and it is a note observable, that the female Trout hath usually 

 a less head and a deeper body than the male Trout, and is 

 usually the better meat. And note, that a hog-back and a little 

 head to either Trout, Salmon, or any other fish, is a sign that 

 that fish is in season. 



But yet you are to note, that as you see some willows or 

 palm-trees bud and blossom sooner than others do, so some 

 Trouts be, in rivers, sooner in season : and as some hollies or 



* This opinion has arisen from mistaking a larpre Trout, after spawning, 

 when his head looks large, because his body is lean, for an old Trout 

 declining through age. J. R. 



