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to the great Trout that is neer an ell long, which had his picture drawne, and now to be seen at mine Hofte Rickabies at the George in Ware; and it may be, by giving that Trout the Rod, that is, by casting it to him into the water, I might have caught him at the long run, for fo I ufe alwaies to do when I meet with an over-grown fish, and you will learn to do fo hereafter; for I tell you, Scholer, fishing is an Art, or at leaft, it is an Art to catch fish.

Viat. But, Mafter, will this Trout die, for it is like he has the hook in his belly?

Pifc. I wil tel you, Scholer, that unlefs the hook be faft in his very Gorge, he wil live, and a little time with the help of the water, wil rust the hook,& it wil in time wear away as the gravel does in the horse hoof, which only leaves a false quarter. And now Scholer, lets go to my Rod. Look you Scholer, I have a fish

a fish too, but it proves a loggerheaded Chub; and this is not much a miss, for this wil pleasure some poor body, as we go to our lodging to meet our brother Peter and honeft Coridon- Come, now bait your hook again, and lay it into the water, for it rains again, and we wil ev'n retire to the Sycamore tree, and there I wil give you more directions concerning fishing; for I would fain make yon an Artist.

Viat. Yes, good Master, I pray

let it be fo.

CHAP.

Pifc.

CHAP. V.

V V

EL, Scholer,

now we are

fate

and are at ease, I shall tel

downe

you a little more of Trout fishing before I fpeak of the Salmon, (which I purpose shall be next) and then of the Pike or Luce. You are to know, there is night as well as day-fishing for a Trout, and that then the best are out of their holds; and the manner of taking them is on the top of the water with a great Lob or Garden worm, or rather two; which you are to fish for in a place where the water runs fomewhat quietly (for in a ftream it wil not be fo well difcerned.) I fay,in a quiet or dead place neer to some swift, there draw your bait over the top of the water to

and

and fro, and if there be a good Trout in the hole, he wil take it, efpecia)ly if the night be dark; for then hie lies boldly neer the top of the water, watching the motion of any Frog or Water-moufe, or Rat betwixt him and the skie, which he hunts for if hefees thewater butwrinkle or move in one of these dead holes, where the great Trouts usually lye neer to

their hold.

And you muft fish for him with a strong line, and not a little hook, and let him have time to gorge your hook, for he does not ufually forfake it, as he oft will in the dayfishing: and if the night be not dark, then fish so with an Artificial fly of a light colour; nay he will fometimes rife at a dead Mouse or a piece of cloth, or any thing that feemes to swim cross the water,or to be in motion: this is a choice way, but I have not oft used it because it is void of the pleasures that fuch dayes as

thefe

these that we now injoy, afford an Angler.

And you are to know, that in Hamp-fhire, (which I think exceeds all England for pleasant Brooks, and ftore of Trouts) they use to catch Trouts in the night by the light of a Torch or straw, which when they have discovered, they strike with a Trout fpear; this kind of way they catch many, but I would not believe it till I was an eye-witness of it, nor like it now I have seen it.

Viat. But Mafter, do not Trouts fee us in the night?

Pifc. Yes,and hear,and smel too, both then and in the day time, for Gefner obferves,the Otter fmels a fifh forty furlong off him in the water; and that it may be true, is affirmed by Sir Francis Bacon (in the eighth Century of his Natural History) who there proves, that waters may be the Medium of founds, by demonftrating it thus, That if you knock

two

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