day in Summer, I have taken many a good Eele by fnigling, and have been much pleased with that fport. And because that are but a you young Angler, know not what fnigling is,I wil now teach it to you: you remember I told you that Eeles do not usually stir in the day time, for then they hide themselvs under fome covert, or under boards, or planks about Floud-gates,or Weirs,orMils, or in holes in the River banks; and you obferving your time in a warm day, when the water is lowest, may take a hook tied to a strong line, or to a string about a yard long, and then into one of these holes, or between any boards about a Mill, or under any great stone or plank, or any place where you think an Ele may hide or shelter her felfe, there with the help of a short stick put in your bait, but leisurely, and as far as vou may conveniently; and it is scarce scarce to be doubted, but that if there be an Eel within the fight of it, the Eele will bite inftantly, and as certainly gorge it; and you need not doubt to have him, if you pull him not out of the hole too quickly, but pull him out by degrees, for he lying folded double in his hole, will, with the help of his taile, break all, unless you give him time to be wearied with pulling, and fo get him out by degrees; not pulling too hard. And thus much for this prefent time concerning the Eele: I wil next tel you a little of the Barbell, and hope with a little discourse of him, to have an end of this showr, and fal to fishing, for the weather clears up a little. Pifc. CHA P. XI. T HE Barbell, is fo called/fayes Gefner) from or by reafon of his beard, or wattles at his mouth, his mouth being under his nofe or chaps, and he is one of the leather mouthed fifh that has his teeth in his throat,he loves to live in very swift ftreams, and where it is gravelly, and in the gravel will root or dig with his nose like a Hog, and there nest himself, taking fo faft hold of any weeds or mofs that grows on ftones, or on piles about Weirs, or Floud-gates, or Bridges, that the water is not able,be it never so swift, to force him from the place which he seems to contend for: this is his conftant custome in Summer, when both he, and most living creatures joy and fport them felves in the Sun; but at the approach of Winter, then he forfakes the fwift ftreams and shallow waters, and by degrees retires to those parts of the River that are quiet and deeper; in which places, (and I think about that time) he Spawns; and as I have formerly told you, with the help of the Melter, hides his Spawn or eggs in holes, which they both dig in the gravel, and then they mutually labour to cover it with the fame fand to prevent it from being devoured by other fish. There be such store of this fish in the River Danubie, that Rande litius fayes, they may in fome places of it, and in fome months of the yeer, be taken by those that dwel neer to the River, with their hands, eight or ten load at a time;he fayes, they begin to be good in May, and that they cease to be fo in August; but it is found to be otherwise in this Nation: but thus far we agree with him, that the 0 3 Spawn Spawne of a Barbell is, if be not poison, as he fayes, yet that it is dangerous meat, and especially in the month of May; and Gefner declares, it had an ill effect upon him, to the indangering of his life. This fifh is of a fine caft and handfome shape, and may be rather faid not to be ill, then to bee good meat; the Chub and he have (I think) both loft a part of their credit by ill Cookery, they |