134 ANGLING LITERATURE IN 



CHAPTER VII. 



Angling Literature in connection with Astrology, Necromancy, 

 the Drama Loves of the Fish Fairy Tales Fascination, 

 Dreams Omens Epigrams Charades, Cunundrums, 

 Valentines Tales of Remarkable Fish, &c. &c. &c. 



WE find many of the most popular astrologers affirming 

 the intimate relations subsisting between the heavenly 

 bodies and fishes, belonging to both fresh water and salt. 

 Both the Greeks and the Romans believed that oysters 

 grew fat in the first two quarters of the moon, and lean 

 in the last two. 



The planetary influence upon fish is alluded to by 

 Gower, in his Confessione Amatis, 1554. 

 " Benethe all other stout the moone, 



The whiche hath with the sea to doone, 



Of floodes highe, and ebbes lowe, 



Vpon his chaunge it shall be knowe, 



And uery fishe, whiche hath a shelle, 



Mote in his gouernance dwelle, 



To wexe and wane in his degree, 



As by the moone a man mai see." 



In the systems of astrology maintained during the 

 middle ages, in most of the countries of Europe, it was a 

 received maxim, that by pricking any of the signs of the 

 Zodiac, certain events would follow in the life of men. 

 To prick the sign PISCES (the fishes) certain things con- 

 nected with the following matters would take place : 



