104 THE. COMPLETE ANGLEK. [PART I. 



turn it to a lemon colour. And some make a paste, for the 

 winter months (at which time the chub is accounted best ; 

 for then it is observed, that the forked bones are lost, or 

 turned into a kind of gristle, especially if he be baked), of 

 cheese and turpentine. He will bite also at a minnow, or 

 penk ; as a trout will : of which I shall tell you more 

 hereafter, and of divers other baits. But take this for a 

 rule, that in hot weather he is to be fished for towards the 

 mid-water, or near the top ; and in colder weather, nearer the 

 bottom. And if you fish for him on the top, with a beetle, 

 or any fly ; then be sure to let your line be very long, and to 

 keep out of sight. And having told you that his spawn is 

 excellent meat, and that the head of a large cheven, the 

 throat being well washed, is the best part of him, I will 

 say no more of this fish at present, but wish you may catch 

 the next you fish for. 



But, lest you may judge me too nice in urging to have 

 the chub dressed so presently after he is taken, I will 

 commend to your consideration how curious former times 

 have been in the like kind. 



You shall read in Seneca's "Natural Questions," lib. iii. 

 cap. 17, that the ancients were so curious in the newness of 

 their fish, that that seemed not new enough that was not 

 put alive into the guest's hand. And he says, that to that 

 end they did usually keep them living in glass bottles in 

 their dining-rooms ; and they did glory much, in their 

 entertaining of friends, to have that fish taken from under 

 their table alive that was instantly to be fed upon. And he 

 says, they took great pleasure to see their mullets change to 

 several colours, when they were dying. But enough of this ; 

 for I doubt I have stayed too long from giving you some 

 observations of the trout, and how to fish for him, which 

 shall take up the next of my spare time. 1 



1 The haunts of the chub are streams shaded with trees ; in summer, 

 deep holes, where they will sometimes float near the surface of the water ; 

 and under the boughs, on the side of a bank. Their spawning-time is 

 towards the beginning of April : they are in season from about the middle 

 of May, till the middle of February ; but are best in winter. At mid-water, 

 and at bottom, use a float ; at top, either dib, or, if you have room, use 

 the fly-line as for trout. They are so eager in biting, that, when they take 

 the bait, you may hear their jaws chop like those of a dog. H. 



