34 NOTES ON FISH AND FISHJNG. 



propertyes and medecynes that are necessary to be 

 kepte." 



The discourse of Juliana Berners is certainly quaint 

 from our modern point of view, but her observations on 

 tackle-making, baits, and angling generally, show that 

 there existed in her time some considerable knowledge of 

 the art, and perhaps that she herself was a proficient in 

 it, or at least well able to cope with the uneducated fish 

 of the period. She discusses also ichthyologically the 

 various kinds of river fish, and their merits as food. She 

 introduces her subject thus (taking the more modern 

 English of later editions) : — 



" Solomon in his parables saith that a good spirit maketh a flower- 

 ing age, that is, a fair age and a long. And sith it is so : I ask this 

 question, which be the means and the causes that induce a man into a 

 merry spirit ? Truly to my best discretion, it seemeth good disports 

 and honest games in whom a man joyeth without any repentance 

 after. Then followeth it that good disports and honest games be cause 

 of man's fair age and long life. And therefore, now will I choose of 

 four good disports and honest games, that is to wit : of hunting, 

 hawkiDg, fishing, and fowling." 



She has no hesitation in saying, "The best to my 

 simple discretion which is fishing, called angling with a 

 rod and a hook; " and then she goes on to contrast these 

 sports : — • 



"Hunting as to my intent is too laborious, for the hunter must 

 always run and follow his hounds, travelling and sweating full sore ; 

 he bloweth till his lips blister ; and when he weneth it be a hare, 

 full oft it is a hedge-hog. Thus he chaseth and wots not what. He 

 cometh home at even, rain-beaten, pricked, and his clothes torn, wet 

 shod, all miry, some hound lost, some surbat. Such griefs and many 

 other happeneth unto (he hunter, which for displeasance of them that 

 love it I dare not report. Thus truly me seemeth that this is not 

 the best disport and game of the said four. The disport and game of 



