CURIOSITIES OF ANGLING LITERATURE. 271 
That the refined trout should be induced to partake 
of this precious compound in dirty water, and a gud- 
geon in clean water, is perhaps intended to illustrate 
the wide difference in the intellect of the two fish. 
Then follow instructions how to know the true 
camphire and how to keep it :— 
“The Bornean camphire is best ; choose that which is 
white and clear like crystal, strong-scented, will easily crumble 
between the fingers, and, being fired, will scarcely be quenched. 
There is a counterfeit or factitious sort, which, put into a hot 
loaf, will parch ; but the true will melt. It will keep many 
years in flax-seed, if it be not exposed to the air; otherwise 
it will evaporate and consume to nothing. 
“ Assafoetida—chuse that which is pure, fine, clammy, 
and smelling almost like garlick. 
“In the absence of gum-ivy, take ivy berries and express 
them ; put some of the infusion into a box, and when about to 
use gentles put them therein for a few minutes. 
“ Dissolve gum-ivy in the oil of spike, and anoint the bait 
with it, Mr. Walton prescribes this for a pike.” 
The oil of spike must not be confounded with 
the oil of spikenard, often mentioned in old books 
upon angling, The former is alluded to in Hill’s 
Materia Medica as an oil extracted from a smaller 
species of lavender—“ The oil of spike is much 
used by our artificers in their varnishes, but it 
is generally adulterated ;” while that of spikenard 
(Spica nardt, Lat.) is a plant which grows plentifully 
in Java, and appears to have been known to the 
medical writers of all ages; indeed it is thus men- 
