CHAP. XV. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 179 



cock, and eat it; and Maudlin shall sit by and sing you 

 the good old song of the Hunting in Chevy Chace, or some 

 other good ballad, for she hath store of them; Maudlin, 

 my honest Maudlin, hath a notable memory, and she thinks 

 nothing too good for you, because you be such honest men. 



Yen. We thank you ; and intend, once in a month, to 

 call upon you again, and give you a little warning ; and 

 so, good night; good night, Maudlin. And now, good 

 master, let's lose no time : but tell me somewhat more of 

 fishing; and, if you please, first, something of fishing for 

 a Gudgeon. 



Pise. I will, honest scholar. 



CHAP. XV. 



Observation* on the GUDGEON, the RUFFE, and the BLEAK ; and 

 how to fish for them. 



Piscator. THE Gudgeon is reputed a fish of excellent 

 taste, and to be very wholesome. He is of a fine shape, 

 of a silver colour, and beautified with black spots both on 

 his body and tail. He breeds two or three times in the 

 y< -a i ; and always in summer. He is commended for a 

 fish of excellent nourishment. The Germans call him 

 Groundling, by reason of his feeding on the ground ; and 

 he there feasts himself, in sharp streams and on the gravel. 

 He and the Barbel both feed so : and do not hunt'for flies 

 at any time, as most other fishes do. He is an excellent 

 fish to enter a young angler, being easy to be taken with 

 a small red worm, on or very near to the ground. He is 

 one of those leather-mouthed fish that has his teeth in his 

 throat, and will hardly be lost off from the hook if he be 

 once strucken. 



They be usually scattered up and down every river in 

 N 2 



