160 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



Let others freeze with angling reeds, 

 And cut their legs with shells 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 -- 



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. 



