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CHAP. IX,

Pifc.

T

is a

HE Bream being at a
full growth
large and stately fish,

he will breed both in Rivers and Ponds, but loves beft to live in Ponds, where, if he likes the aire, he will grow not only to be very large, but as fat as a Hog: he is by Gefner taken to be more pleasant or sweet then wholesome; this fish is long in growing, but breeds exceedingly in a water that pleases him,yea,in many Ponds fo faft,as to over store them, and ftarve the other fish.

The Baits good for to catch the Bream are many; as namely,young Wafps, and a Paste made of brown bread and honey, or Gentels, or especially

in

especially a worm, a worm that is not much unlike a Magot, which you will find at the roots of Docks,or of Flags, or of Rushes that grow the water, or watry places, and a Grafhopper having his legs nip'd off, or a flye that is in June and July to be found amongst the green Reed, growing by the water fide, those are faid to bee excellent baits. I doubt not but there be many others that both the Bream and the Carpalfo would bite at; but these time and experience will teach you how to find out: And fo having according to my promise given you these short Obfervations concerning the Bream, I shall also give you fome Obfervations concerning the Tench,and those alfo very briefly.

The Tench is obferved to love to live in Ponds;but if he be in a River, then in the still places of the River, he is obferved to be a Physician to

other

other fishes, and is fo called by many that have been fearchers into the nature of fish; and it is faid, that a Pike will neither devour nor hurt him, because the Pike being fick or hurt by any accident, is cured by touching the Tench, and the Tench does the like to other fishes, either by touching them, or by being in their company.

Randelitius fayes in his discourse of fishes (quoted by Gefner) that at his being at Rome, he faw certaine Jewes apply Tenches to the feet of a fick man for a cure; and it is obferved,that many of those people have many Secrets unknown to Chriftians, fecrets which have never been written, but have been fuccessfively fince the dayes of Solomon (who knew the nature of all things from the Shrub to the Cedar) delivered by tradition from the father to the fon, and fo from generation to generation without writing, or (unless

it were cafually) without the least communicating them to any other Nation or Tribe (for to do fo, they account a profanation): yet this fish, that does by a natural inbred Balfome, not only cure himselfe if he be wounded, but others also, loves not to live in clear streams paved with gravel, but in ftanding waters, where mud and the worst of weeds abound, and therefore it is, I think, that this Tench

is by fo many accounted better for

N

Medi

Medicines then for meat: but for the first,I am able to say little; and for the later, can fay pofitively, that he eats pleasantly; and will therefore give you a few, and but a few directions how to catch him.

He will bite at a Paste made of brown bread and honey, or at a Marsh-worm, or a Lob-worm; he will bite also at a smaller worm, with his head nip'd off, anda Cod-worm put on the hook before the worm ; and I doubt not but that he will alfo in the three hot months (for in the nine colder he ftirs not much) bite at a Flag-worm, or at a green Gentle, but can pofitively fay no more of the Tench, he being a fish that I have not often Angled for; but I wish my honeft Scholer may, and be ever fortunate when hee fishes.

Viat. I thank you good Master: but I pray Sir, fince you fee it still rains May butter, give me fome ob

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