ld fish； such a one as but for extreme hunger the Pike will not devour。 For to affright the Pike； and save himself； the Perch will set up his fins； much like as a turkey…cock will sometimes set up his tail。
But； my scholar； the Perch is not only valiant to defend himself； but he is； as I said； a bold…biting fish： yet he will not bite at all seasons of the year； he is very abstemious in winter； yet will bite then in the midst of the day； if it be warm： and note； that all fish bite best about the midst of warm day in winter。 And he hath been observed； by some； not usually to bite till the mulberry…tree buds； that is to say； till extreme frosts be past the spring； for； when the mulberry…tree blossoms； many gardeners observe their forward fruit to be past the danger of frosts； and some have made the like observation of the Perch's biting。
But bite the Perch will； and that very boldly。 And； as one has wittily observed； if there be twenty or forty in a hole； they may be； at one standing； all catched one after another； they being； as he says； like the wicked of the world； not afraid； though their fellows and companions perish in their sight。 And you may observe； that they are not like the solitary Pike； but love to accompany one another； and march together in troops。
And the baits for this bold fish are not many： I mean； he will bite as well at some； or at any of these three； as at any or all others whatsoever： 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 best； being well scoured in moss or fennel； or he will bite at a worm that lies under cow…dung； with a bluish head。 And if you rove for a Perch with a minnow； then it is best to be alive； you sticking your hook through his back fin； or a minnow with the hook in his upper lip； and letting him swim 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 little one： and the like way you are to fish for the Perch with a small frog； your hook being fastened through the skin of his leg； towards the upper part of it： and； lastly； I will give you but this advice； that you give the Perch time enough when he bites； for there was scarce ever any angler that has given him too much。 And now I think best to rest myself； for I have almost spent my spirits with talking so long。
Venator。 Nay； good master； one fish more； for you see it rains still： and you know our angles are like money put to usury； they may thrive； though we sit still； and do nothing but talk and enjoy one another。 Come； come； the other fish； good master。
Piscator。 But； scholar； have you nothing to mix with this discourse； which now grows both tedious and tiresome ？ Shall I have nothing from you； that seem to have both a good memory and a cheerful spirit？
Venator。 Yes； master； I will speak you a copy of verses that were made by Doctor Donne； and made to shew the world that he could make soft and smooth verses； when he thought smoothness worth his labour： and I love them the better； because they allude to Rivers； and Fish and Fishing。 They be these：
Come； live with me； and be my love； And we will some new pleasures prove； Of golden sands； and crystal brooks； With silken lines； and silver hooks。
There will the river whisp'ring run； Warm'd by thy eyes more than the sun And there the enamel'd fish will stay Begging themselves they may betray。
When thou wilt swim in that live bath； Each fish； which every channel hash； Most amorously to thee will swim； Gladder to catch thee。 than thou him。
If thou； to be so seen； beest loath By sun or moon； thou dark'nest both； And if mine eyes have leave to see； I need not their light； having thee；
Let others freeze with angling reeds； And cut their legs with shells and weeds； Or treacherously poor fish beset With strangling snares or windowy net；
Let coarse bold hands； from slimy nest； The bedded fish in banks outwrest； Let curious traitors sleeve silk flies； To 'witch poor wand'ring fishes' eyes。
For thee； thou need'st no such deceit； For thou thyself art shine own bait； That fish that is not catcht thereby； Is wiser afar； alas； than I。
Piscator。 Well remembered； honest scholar。 I thank you for these choice verses； which I have heard formerly； but had quite forgot； till they were recovered by your happy memory。 Well； being I have now rested myself a little； I will make you some requital； by telling you some observations of the Eel； for it rains still： and because； as you say； our angles are as money put to use； that thrives when we play； therefore we'll sit still； and enjoy ourselves a little longer under this honeysuckle hedge。
The fourth day…continued
Of the Eel； and other Fish that want Scales
Chapter XIII
Piscator
It is agreed by most men； that the Eel is a most dainty fish： the Romans have esteemed her the Helena of their feasts； and some the queen of palate…pleasure。 But most men differ about their breeding： some say they breed by generation； as other fish do； and others； that they breed； as some worms do； of mud； as rats and mice； and many other living creatures； are bred in Egypt； by the sun's heat when it shines upon the overflowing of the river Nilus； or out of the putrefaction of the earth； and divers other ways。 Those that deny them to breed by generation； as other fish do； ask； If any man ever saw an Eel to have a spawn or melt ？ And they are answered； That they may be as certain of their breeding as if they had seen spawn； for they say； that they are certain that Eels have all parts fit for generation； like other fish； but so small as not to be easily discerned； by reason of their fatness； but that discerned they may be； and that the He and the She Eel may be distinguished by their fins。 And Rondeletius says； he has seen Eels cling together like dew…worms。
And others say； that Eels； growing old； breed other Eels out of the corruption of their own age； which； Sir Francis Bacon says； exceeds not ten years。 And others say； that as pearls are made of glutinous dewdrops； which are condensed by the sun's heat in those countries； so Eels are bred of a particular dew； falling in the months of May or June on the banks of some particular ponds or rivers； apted by nature for that end； which in a few clays are； by the sun's heat； turned into Eels： and some of the Ancients have called the Eels that are thus bred； the offspring of Jove。 I have seen； in the beginning of July； in a river not far from Canterbury； some parts of it covered over with young Eels； about the thickness of a straw； and these Eels did lie on the top of that water； as thick as motes are said to be in the sun： and I have heard the like of other rivers； as namely； in Severn； where they are called Yelvers； and in a pond； or mere near unto Staffordshire； where； about a set time in summer； such small Eels abound so much； that many of the poorer sort of people that inhabit near to it； take such Eels out of this mere with sieves or sheets； and make a kind of Eel…cake of them； and eat it like as bread。 And Gesner quotes Venerable Bede； to say； that in England there is an island called Ely； by reason of the innumerable number of Eels that breed in it。 But that Eels may be bred as some worms； and some kind of bees and wasps are； either of dew； or out of the corruption of the earth； seems to be made probable by the barnacles and young goslings bred by the sun's heat and the rotten planks of an old ship； and hatched of trees； both which are related for truths by Du Bartas and Lobel； and also by our learned Camden； and laborious Gerhard in his Herbal。
It is said by Rondeletius； that those Eels that are bred in rivers that relate to or be nearer to the sea； never return to the fresh waters； as the Salmon does always desire to do； when they have once tasted the salt water； and I do the more easily believe this； because I am certain that powdered beef is a most excellent bait to catch an Eel。 And though Sir Francis Bacon will allow the Eel's life to be but ten years； yet he； in his History of Life and Death； mentions a Lamprey； belonging to the Roman emperor； to be made tame； and so kept for almost threescorc years； and that such useful and pleasant observations were made of this Lamprey； that Crassus the orator； who kept her； lamented her death； and we read in Doctor Hakewill； that Hortensius was seen to weep at the death of a Lamprey that he had kept long； and loved exceedingly。
It is granted by all； or most men； that Eels； for about six months； that is to say； the six cold months of the year； stir not up or down； neither in the rivers； nor in the pools in which they usually are； but get into the soft earth or mud； and there many of them together bed themselves； and live without feeding upon anything； as I have told you some swallows have been observed to do in hollow trees； for those six cold months。 And this the Eel and Swallow do； as not being able to endure winter weather： for Gesner quotes Albertus to say； that in the year 1125； that year's winter being more cold than usually； Eels did； by nature's instinct； get out of the water into a stack of hay in a meadow upon dry ground； and there bedded themselves： but yet； at last； a frost killed them。 And our Camden relates； that； in Lancashire； fishes were digged out of the earth with spades； where no water was near to the place。 I shall say little more of the Eel； but that； as it is observed he is impatient of cold； so it hath been observed； that； in warm weather； an Eel has been known to live five days out of the water。
And lastly； let me tell you； that some curious searchers into the natures of fish observe； that there be several sorts or kinds of Eels； as the silver Eel； the green or greenish Eel； with which the river of Thames abounds； and those are called Grigs； and a blackish Eel； whose head is more flat and bigger than ordinary Eels； and also an Eel whose fins are reddish； and but seldom taken in this nation； and yet taken sometimes。 These several kind of Eels are； say some； diversely bred； as； namely； out of the corruption of the earth； and some by dew； and other ways； as I have said to you： and yet it is affirmed by some for a certain； that the silver Eel