CHAP. IV. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 57 



CHAP. IV. 



Observations on the NATURE and BREEDING of the TROUT, 

 and how to fish for him. And the Milk-maid's Song. 



Piscator. THE Trout is a fish highly valued, both in 

 this and foreign nations. He may be justly said, as the 

 old poet said of wine, and we English say of venison, 

 to be a generous fish: a fish that is so like the buck, 

 that he also has his seasons ; for it is observed, that he 

 comes in and goes out of season with the stag and buck. 

 Gesner says, his name is of a German offspring; and 

 says he is a fish that feeds clean and purely, in the 

 swiftest streams, and on the hardest gravel; and that 

 he may justly contend with all fresh-water fish, as the 

 Mullet may with all sea-fish, for precedency and dainti- 

 ness of taste; and that being in right season, the most 

 dainty palates have allowed precedency to him. 



And before I go farther, in my discourse, let me tell 

 you, that you are to observe, that as there be some bar- 

 ren Does that are good in summer, so there be some 

 barren Trouts that are good in winter; but there are 

 not many that are so ; for usually they be in their per- 

 fection in the month of May, and decline with the buck. 

 Now you are to take notice, that in several countries, as 

 in Germany, and in other parts, compared to ours, fish do 

 differ much in their bigness, and shape, and other ways ; 

 and so do Trouts. It is well known, that in the Lake 

 Leman (the Lake of Geneva) there are Trouts taken of 

 three cubits long; as is affirmed by Gesner, a writer of 

 good credit: and Mercator* says, the Trouts that are 



(1) Gerard Mercator, of Ruremond in Flanders, a man of so intense appli- 

 cation lo mathematical studies, that he neglected the necessary refreshments of 

 nature. He engraved with his owu hand, and coloured the maps to his geo- 

 graphical writings. He wrote several books of Theology; and died 1594. 



