160 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



Let others freeze with angling reeds, 

 And cut their legs with snells and weeds, 

 Or treacherously poor fish beset 

 "With strangling snare or windowy net ; 



Let coarse bold hands, from slimy nest, 

 The bedded fish in banks outwrest ; 

 Let curious traitors sleave silk flies, 

 To 'witch poor wandering fishes' eyes : 



For thee, thou need'st no such deceit, 

 For thou thyself art thine own bait : 

 That fish that is not catch'd thereby 

 Is wiser far, alas, than I. 



Piscator. Well remembered, honest scholar. I thank you 

 for these choice verses, which I have heard formerly, but had 

 quite forgot, till they were recovered by your happy memory. 

 Well, being I have now rested myself a little, I will make you 

 some requital, by telling you some observations of the Eel, for 

 it rains still ; arid because, as you say, our angles* are as money 

 put to use, that thrives when we play, therefore we '11 sit still, 

 and enjoy ourselves a little longer under this honeysuckle 

 hedge. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



OBSERVATIONS OF THE EEL, AND OTHER FISH THAT WANT 

 SCALES, AND HOW TO FISH FOR THEM, 



EEL Anguilla vulgaris LntXJE.cs. 



Piscator. IT is agreed by most men, that the Eel is a most 

 dainty fish : the Romans have esteemed her the Helena of their 

 feasts, and some the queen of palate pleasure. But most men 



* " Angles" literally meau hooks, but here the word seems to imply th 

 whole fishing tackle. J. R. 



