Fishes of the Angle. 123 



A volume as large as the present one could easily be 

 written -on the Fishes of poetry alone, for it will be seen 

 from the next few pages (which read, I fear, very much 

 like a mere alphabetical catalogue), how comprehensive 

 the range of poetical reference to water-folk really is. 

 The subject has, I know, already attracted literary men 

 of the angle, and a great deal of most excellent work has 

 been done ; but there is not as yet any complete Thesaurus 

 of fish-verse : than which, I can imagine, for fishermen, no 

 more fascinating volume, nor for the curious reader outside 

 the craft, one of more unconventional interest. 



To take them in order. First, the barbel, " than whom 

 a braver doth not swim" (Drayton), "nor (newly taken) 

 more the curious palate please;" the "silver broadside" 

 bream of Quarles, that gives Waller these curious lines in 

 the " Battle of the Summer Islands " 



" The boat which on the first assault did go, 

 Struck with a harping-iron the younger foe 

 Who, when he felt his side so rudely gored, 

 Loud as the sea that nourished him he roared : 

 As a broad bream, to please some curious taste, 

 While yet alive, in boiling water cast, 

 Vexed with unwonted heat he flings about 

 The scorching brass, and hurls the liquor out ; 

 So with the barbed javelin stung, he raves, 

 And scourges with his tail the suffering waves" 



The "golden carp in his precious mail" (Charlotte Smith), 

 and " yellow carp in scales bedropped with gold " (Pope), 

 *' in burnished golden mail " (Somerville) ; the chub, " which 

 some (whose neater name) a cheven call" (Drayton), "food 

 to the tyrant pike (more being in his power), who for their 

 numerous store he most doth them devour;" the "fast- 

 feeding" cod; the "muddy" conger; the "pretty slender 

 dare, of many called the dace," "with silver back" 



