180 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [PART I. 



this also out of Michael Drayton, 1 my honest old friend ; as 

 he tells it you, in his " Polyolbion." 



As when the salmon seoks a fresher stream to find, 

 Which hither from the sea comes, yearly, by his kind, 

 As he tow'rds season grows ; and stems the wat'ry tract 

 Where Tivy, falling down, makes an high cataract, 

 Forced by the rising rocks that there her course oppose, 

 As though within her bounds they meant her to inclose ; 

 Here, when the labouring fish does at the foot arrive, 

 And finds that by his strength he does but vainly strive ; 

 His tail takes in his mouth, and bending like a bow 

 That's to full compass drawn, aloft himself doth throw 

 Then springing at his height, as doth a little wand 

 That, bended end to end, and started from man's hand, 

 Far off itself doth cast, so does the salmon vault ; 

 And if at first he fail, his second summersault 2 

 He instantly essays, and, from his nimble ring 

 Still yerking, never leaves until himself he fling 

 Above the opposing stream. 



This, Michael Drayton tells you, of this leap or summer- 

 sault of the salmon. 



And next, I shall tell you, that it is observed by Gresner 

 and others, that there is no better salmon than in England, 

 and that though some of our northern counties have as 

 fat, and as large, 3 as the river Thames, yet none are of so 

 excellent a taste. 



1 An excellent poet, born in Warwickshire, 1563. Among his works, 

 which are very numerous, is the ' ' Polyolbion, " a chorographical description 

 of the rivers, mountains, forests, castles, &c., in this island. Though this 

 poem has great merit, it is rendered much more valuable by the learned 

 notes of Mr. Selden. The author died in 1631, and lies buried among the 

 poets in Westminster Abbey. H. 



2 Summersault, or summerset, from soulrcsaiilt, Fr. a high leap, n 

 which the heels are thrown over the head. To throw a summerset, is a 

 phrase common with tumblers. H. Drayton's notion of the salmon-leap, 

 which prevails almost universally even to the present day, is found to be 

 more poetical than true. The salmon is said never to curve itself or put 

 its tail into its mouth for the purpose of leaping, but to derive its saltatory 

 force from its powerful fins. ED. 



3 The following interesting article of intelligence appeared in one of the 

 London journals, April 18, 1789 : " The largest salmon ever caught, was 

 yesterday brought to London. This extraordinary fish measured upwards 

 of four feet from the point of the nose to the extremity of the tail, and three 

 feet round the thickest part of the body ; its weight was seventy pounds, 

 within a few ounces. A fishmonger in the Minories cut it up at one shilling 

 per pound, and the whole was sold almost immediately." H. Holland 



