44 -^ Booke 



other which are out of season, are forbid to be taken and solde in markets, or other- 

 wise priuely eaten, vpon the Uke penaltie afore mentioned. I would to God it were 

 so here with vs in England, and to haue more preseruers, and lesse spoylers of fish 

 out of season and in season : then we should haue more plentie then we haue 

 through this Realme. Also I would wish that all stoppe nets, and drags with 

 castino- nets, were banished in all common riuers throught this Realme for three 

 moneths : as in March, Aprill, and May, wherein they take fish out of season as 

 well as others, with great spoyles of spawn e, both of great and small fish, for they 

 vse such nets with small mesh, that kils all fish afore they come to any growth and 

 good seruice for the common wealth. Who so euer doe preuent such, they shall 

 doe good to the common wealth. And water Bayles which are appointed to see for 

 such nets in riuers, and running streames (which is thought) they neglect their duties, 

 for they let the fisher men vse what nets they list, as the voyce goes : and Gentlemen 

 which owes the waters lets them also alone, and the fisher men they say they pay 

 such rents, they must take what they can, so herein are none y^/ cares for the pre- 

 seruing of the common wealth : whereby fish cannot increase, nor yet suffer to growe. 

 So I leaue, wishing that carefuU men were put in office, and such as fauours the 

 common wealth, and all other put out that se'ekes for their owne profite onely. 

 Then should we'e haue within fewe yeares, much plentie of all riuer fish, and also a 

 great sparing to flesh, if they would vse fish as they were woont on Frydayes, 

 Saterdayes, and fasting dayes commanded by our Prince, and so truely kept of all 

 people, from time to time. 



The breeding of Creuis. 



The fresh water Creuis, commonly Hues and lyes in bankes and holes in riuers 

 and brookes, and they are a holesome fish for all sickne and weake persons. They 

 will cast their spawne in the spring about the moneth of May, and will shed it on 

 stones, and we'edes in the bottome, whereof most is eaten up with yeeles and water 

 rats, as some do suppose. Therefore it were not vnme'ete to make fagots of hole 

 strawe to saue the spawne as aforesaide. Also they will soone be driuen with 



