76 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [parti. 



Trout, Salmon, or any other fish, is a sign that tliat fish is iii 

 season.^ 



But yet you are to note, that as you see some willows or palm- 

 trees bud and blossom sooner than others do, so some Troiits be, 

 in rivers, sooner in season : and as some hollies, or oaks, are 

 longer before they cast their leaves, so are some Trouts, in rivers, 

 longer before they go out of season. 



And you are to note, that thejre are several kinds of Trouts : 

 but these several kinds are not considered but by very few men ; 

 for they go under the general name of Trouts : just as pigeons 

 do, in most places ; though it is certain, there are tame and wild 

 pigeons : and of the tame, there be helmits and runts, and 

 carriers and cropers, and indeed too many to name. Nay, the 

 Royal Society have found and published lately, that there be 

 thirty-and-three kinds of spiders ; and yet all, for aught I 

 know, go under that one general name of spider. And it is so 

 with many kinds of fish, and of Trouts especially ; which differ 

 in their bigness, and shape, and spots, and colour.^ The great 

 Kentish hens may be an instance, compared to other hens : and, 

 doubtless, there is a kind of small Trout, which will never thrive 

 to be big ; that breeds very many more than others do, that be 

 of a larger size ; which you may rather believe, if you consider 

 that the little wren and titmouse will have twenty young ones at 

 a time, when, usually, the noble hawk, or the musical thrassel 

 or blackbird, exceed not four or five. 



And now you shall see me try my skill to catch a Trout ; and 

 at my next walking, either this evening or to-morrow morning, I 

 will give you direction how you yourself shall fish for him. 



Venator. Trust me, master, I see now it is a harder matter 

 to catch a Trout than a Chub : for I have put on patience, and 

 followed you these two hours, and not seen a fish stir, neither at 

 your minnow nor your worm. 



PiSCATOR. Well, scholar, you must endure worse luck some- 

 time, or you will never make a good angler. But what say you 

 now ? there is a Trout now, and a good one too, if I can but 

 hold him ; and two or three turns more will tire him. Now you 

 see he lies still, and the sleight is to land him : reach me that 



VARIATIONS. 



9 male Trout And a hog-back and a little head, to any fish, either Trout, &c.— arf,' 

 yi, and ^th edit. 



^ And you are to note that there are several kinds of Trouts, though they all go under 

 that general name ; just as there be tame and wild pigeons : and of tame there be 

 cropers, carriers, runts, and too many to name, which all differ, and so do Trouts, in 

 their bigness, shape, and colour. The great Kentish, &c.— 2rf, srf, atid ^tk edit. 



