servations and directions concerning the Pearch, for they fay he is both a very good and a bold biting fish, and I would faine learne to fish for him. Pifc. You fay true, Scholer, the Pearch is a very good, and a very bold biting fish, he is one of the fishes of prey, that, like the Pike and Trout, carries his teeth in his mouth, not in his throat, and dare venture to kill and devour another fish; this fish, and the Pike are (fayes Gefner) the best of fresh water fish; he Spawns but once a year, and is by Physicians held very nutritive; yet by many to be hard of digestion: They abound more in the River Poe, and in England, (fayes Randelitius) then other parts, and have in their brain a stone, which is in forrain parts fold by Apothecaries, being there noted to be very medicinable against the ftone in the reins: These be a part of the commendatiN 2

ons

ons which some Philosophycal brain have beftowed upon the fresh-water Pearch, yet they commend the Sea Pearch, which is known by having but one fin on his back, (of which they fay, we English fee but a few) to be a much better fish.

The Pearch grows flowly, yet will grow, as I have been credibly informed, to be almost two foot long; for my Informer told me, such a one was not long fince taken by Sir Abraham Williams, a Gentleman of worth, and a lover of Angling,that yet lives,and I wish he may: this was a deep bodied fifh; and doubtless durft have devoured a Pike of half his own length; for I have told you, he is a bold fish, such a one, as but for extreme hunger, the Pike will not devour; for to affright the Pike, the Pearch will fet up his fins, much like as a Turkie-Cock wil fometimes fet up his tail.

But, my Scholer, the Pearch is

not

not only valiant to defend himself, but he is (as you faid) a bold biting fish, yet he he will not bite at all feafons of the yeer; he is very abstemious in Winter; and hath been observed by fome, not ufually to bite till the Mulberry tree buds, that is to fay, till extreme Frofts be past for that Spring; for when the Mulberry tree bloffomes, many Gardners obfervetheir forward fruit to be paft the danger of Frosts, and fome have made the like obfervation of the Pearches biting.

But bite the Pearch will, and that very boldly, and as one has wittily obferved, if there be twentie or fortie in a hole, they may be at one standing all catch'd one after another; they being, as he faies, like the wicked of the world, not afraid, though their fellowes and companions perish in their figh

And the baits for this bold fish

are not many; I mean, he will bite as well at fome, or at any of these three, as at any or all others whatfoever; a Worm, a Minnow, or a little Frog (of which you may find many in hay time) and of worms, the Dunghill worm, called a brandling, I take to be beft, being well fcowred in Mofs or Fennel; and if you fish for a Pearch with a Minnow, then it is best to be alive, you sticking

your

your hook through his back fin, and letting him fwim up and down about mid-water, or a little lower, and you still keeping him to about that depth, by a Cork, which ought not to be a very light one: and the like way you are to fish for the Pearch with a small Frog, your hook being fastened through the skin of his leg, towards the upper part of it: And laftly, I will give you but this advise, that you give the Pearch time enough when he bites, for there was scarfe ever any Angler that has given him too much. And now I think best to reft my selfe, for I have almost spent my fpirits with talking fo long.

Viat. Nay, good Master, one fish more, for you fee it rains ftill, and you know our Angles are like money put to ufury; they may thrive though we fit ftill and do nothing, but talk & enjoy one another.