登陆注册
15987100000020

第20章

Now the next thing that I will commend to your consideration is, that the Trout is of a more sudden growth than other fish.Concerning which, you are also to take notice, that he lives not so long as the Pearch, and divers other fishes do, as Sir Francis Bacon hath observed in his History of Life and Death.

And next you are to take notice, that he is not like the Crocodile, which if he lives never so long, vet always thrives till his death: but 'tis not so with the Trout; for after he is come to his full growth, he declines in his body, and keeps his bigness, or thrives only in his head till his death.

And you are to know, that he will, about, especially before, the time of his spawning, get, almost miraculously, through weirs and flood-gates, against the stream; even through such high and swift places as is almost incredible.Next, that the Trout usually spawns about October or November, but in some rivers a little sooner or later; which is the more observable, because most other fish spawn in the spring or summer, when the sun hath warmed both the earth and water, and made it fit for generation.And you are to note, that he continues many months out of season; for it may be observed of the Trout, that he is like the Buck or the Ox, that will not be fat in many months, though he go in the very same pastures that horses do, which will be fat in one month: and so you may observe, That most other fishes recover strength, and grow sooner fat and in season than the Trout doth.

And next you are to note, That till the sun gets to such a height as to warm the earth and the water, the Trout is sick, and lean, and lousy, and unwholesome; for you shall, in winter, find him to have a big head, and, then, to be lank and thin and lean; at which time many of them have sticking on them Sugs, or Trout-lice; which is a kind of a worm, in shape like a clove, or pin with a big head, and sticks close to him, and sucks his moisture, those, I think, the Trout breeds himself: and never thrives till he free himself from them, which is when warm weather comes; and, then, as he grows stronger, he gets from the dead still water into the sharp streams and the gravel, and, there, rubs off these worms or lice; and then, as he grows stronger, so he gets him into swifter and swifter streams, and there lies at the watch for any fly or minnow that comes near to him; and he especially loves the May-fly, which is bred of the cod-worm, or cadis; and these make the Trout bold and lusty, and he is usually fatter and better meat at the end of that month than at any time of the year.

Now you are to know that it is observed, that usually the best Trouts are either red or yellow; though some, as the Fordidge Trout, be white and yet good; but that is not usual: and it is a note observable, that the female Trout hath usually a less head, and a deeper body than the male Trout, and is usually the better meat.And note, that a hog back and a little head, to either Trout, Salmon or any other fish, is a sign that that fish is in 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 Trouts 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 there 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 hermits 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 rasher believe, if you consider that the little wren end 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 sometime, 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 landing-net.So, Sir, now he is mine own: what say you now, is not this worth all my labour and your patience?

Venator.On my word, master, this is a gallant Trout; what shall we do with him?

Piscator.Marry, e en eat him to supper: we'll go to my hostess from whence we came; she told me, as I was going out of door, that my brother Peter, a good angler and a cheerful companion, had sent word he would lodge there to-night, and bring a friend with him.My hostess has two beds, and I know you and I may have the best: we'll rejoice with my brother Peter and his friend, tell tales, or sing ballads, or make a catch, or find some harmless sport to content us, and pass away a little time without offence to God or man.

Venator.A match, good master, let's go to that house, for the linen looks white, and smells of lavender, and I long to lie in a pair of sheets that smell so.Let's be going, good master, for I am hungry again with fishing.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 鹭灵传奇

    鹭灵传奇

    紫云山,武学圣地,有师徒三人。师父是武学至尊,师兄是武学奇才,唯独一个丫头片子,论资质,可谓朽木一尊,论心智,可谓顽石一枚。然而再笨的女子一遇到爱情,也可立马化身女超人。她为了心上人只身闯天下,却阴差阳错卷入了灵国、越国、乌兰国之间的权利斗争。凭着绝美的外貌、“二”姐的智慧,她既是白王的梦中情人,又是玄王的未婚之妃,更是三大公主的眼中钉,肉中刺!更搞笑的是,她在武林至宝的争夺中踩着狗屎运“一鸣惊人”,武林正道誓要铲除妖女,为民除害!而邪门妖道却视其为千年不遇之奇才!爱她之人狠爱狠爱,恨她之人绝不留情!新欢旧爱为了她要杀伐征战,挚友情敌为了她要一决雌雄!一时间搅得天下大乱……
  • 自己是最好的医生

    自己是最好的医生

    本书共分为四册,内容包括:《黄帝内经》说起;脏腑决定病理变化;透过症状看病理变化;经络是人体内外沟通的桥梁;把握中年健康;平安度过智慧的人生等。
  • 疯狂原始人

    疯狂原始人

    【废话都在后边,前边的几章还成。如果耐心足够,建议看下08卷首语】人兽大战不得不进行,疯狂与血腥之战不得不进行,猛男与悍妞之战不得不进行。因为这是蒙昧的蛮荒时代疯狂原始人与疯狂巨兽们之间,有你没我的生存之战。不疯狂就不能活下去,不血腥就无法取得胜利。
  • 穿越:倾城之恋II

    穿越:倾城之恋II

    他为了她,毅然放弃了皇宫,选择离开。然而事实却并不如他们想得如此简单,面对束缚的爱情,她似乎更向往自由,却又在爱情前犹豫徘徊,当他们挽救回他们的情感时,一个男子却吸引了她的眼球,青色的长发,眉宇间透露着霸道,有着与她一样湛蓝的眼眸,英挺的鼻梁,如鲜血一般的唇瓣。他到底是谁?为什么一眼就看出了她的破绽?当欧阳逸发现她对他们之间的感情在犹豫时,他再一次失落,面对皇朝与爱人之间的纷争,她——要逃避,还是毅然面对?
  • 佛门神通在都市

    佛门神通在都市

    楚风的逆袭。“怎么逆袭?”“因为佛门六通,我有五通!”“哪五通?”“天眼通,天耳通,他心通,宿命通,神足通!”“还有一通呢?”“漏尽通?算了吧,我为有情人,七情六欲不可少。”
  • 九泽沧海

    九泽沧海

    九泽大陆,沧海深处传来阵阵怒吼。一名少年伫立海边,举头望天,那铺天的海浪就如他的命运一般向他压来。少年时的悲惨经历却令他因祸得福,开启身上惊天神力。从家仇,到国恨,再到背负上拯救苍生的使命。浩浩沧海,终究不敌他一声震天巨吼!(新人新作,保证日更一章,求支持。)
  • 温暖的漩

    温暖的漩

    自从认识了温暖之后,霍郑凯单调的高中生活变得不一样了。他默默喜欢着她,但是却又害怕表白之后,失去和她之间的友情。面对温暖的转学,他该何去何从?当发现温暖和池阳之间的感情纠葛,他又将怎样去争取他的爱情?这场暗恋到最后,原来他只是唱了配角?但是,这不就是青春吗?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 刘郎亦多恨

    刘郎亦多恨

    刘郎亦多恨,恨作冢中尘。天地即衾枕,犬不吠医人。
  • 威霸九天

    威霸九天

    九天大陆,强者为尊;一个来自神秘乡村的晨风,刀破九天!成就无上霸业。从一开始的平淡心性,再到后来的争霸之心……这个世界没有什么公平!没有什么王道!只有无尽的杀戮和黑暗的社会。你强!你就是道理!你弱!你就是蝼蚁!对于这书的介绍我就不介绍那么多了,大致来解释一下实力;外域,实力不超‘武’阶分为徒士师灵王宗尊帝中域,实力不超‘战’阶分为徒士师灵王宗尊帝天域,最高实力为圣!天域实力分为战神,战圣;而圣之上的境界则是无人可及……
  • 山河绝杀令

    山河绝杀令

    一群亡国亡家的抗日志士,为了制止或者延缓日军的全面侵华战争,千里追杀日本战争策略的制订者,演绎中朝兄弟姐妹之间的热血情仇,江湖义士的义胆忠心,本书携带着深刻真实的历史背景,张扬着浓烈厚重的民族精神。