which is the bran; and then if you will, you may fry the same in
honey and milk, or some strong-scented oils, as polypody, spike, ivy,
turpentine; for Nature, which maketh nothing in vain, hath given
the fish nostrils, and that they can smell, is undeniable; and I am
persuaded, more guided by the sense of smelling, than sight, for
sometimes they will come to the float, if any wax be upon it, smell
at it and go away. We see also that strong scents draw them together;
as, put grains, worms, or snails, in a bottle of hay tied pretty close,
and you will, if you pluck it out suddenly, sometimes draw up EELS in
it. But I never yet made trial of any of these oils; for when I had
the oils, I wanted time to try them; or when I had time, I wanted the
oils: but I recommend them to others for trial, and do purpose, God
willing, to prove the virtue myself, especially that ointment so highly
commended by J. D. in his _Secrets of Angling_.[3]
[3] In the edition of 1613, duod. the receipt here referred to occurs
at the end of the volume:
Would’st thou catch fish?
Then here’s thy wish;
Take this receipt
To anoint thy bait.
Thou that desirest to fish with line and hook,
Be it in poole, in river, or in brook,
To blisse thy bait, and make the fish to bite,
Loe here’s a means if thou canst hit it right;
Take gum of life, fine beat and laid to soak
In oyle, well drawn from that which kills the oak;
Fish where thou wilt, thou shalt have sport thy fill,
When twenty fail, thou shalt be sure to kill.
_Probatum._
It’s perfect and good
If well understood
Else not to be told
For silver or gold.
Lauson, who ‘augmented with many approved experiments,’ the second
edition of the _Secrets of Angling_, 1652, duod. observes, ‘This
excellent receipt divers Anglers can tell you where you may buy them.’
On the subject of ‘gum of life,’ he continues, ‘I have heard much of an
oyntment that will presently cause any fish to bite; but I could never
attain the knowledge thereof, the nearest in mine opinion, except this
Probatum, is the oyle of an ospray, which is called Aquila Marina, the
Sea-Eagle. She is of body neare the bignesse of a goose; one of her
feete is web’d to swim withall, the other hath talons to catch fish.
It seems the fish come up to her, for she cannot dive. Some likelihood
there is also in a paste made of Coculus Indie, Assa-Fœtida, Honey and
Wheat-flour; but I never tried them, therefore I cannot prescribe.’
‘That which kills the oak,’ is expressly said to signify ‘the Ivy,’
edit. 1652.
In a third, and hitherto unrecorded edition of the _Secrets of
Angling_, it is said, ‘This excellent receipt you may buy ready and
truely made, at the signe of the Flying Horse, an Apothecaries in
Carter-Lane.’
EDITOR.
14. When you see ant-flies in greatest plenty, go to the ant-hills
where they breed, take a great handful of the earth, with as much of
the roots of the grass growing on those hills; put all into a large
glass bottle, then gather a pottle full of the blackest, ant-flies
unbruised, put them into the bottle, or into a firkin, if you would
keep them long, first washed with honey, or water and honey; ROACH and
DACE will bite at these flies under water near the ground.
15. When you gather bobs after the plough, put them into a firkin, with
sufficient of the soil they were bred in, to preserve them; stop the
vessel quite close, or all will spoil; set it where neither wind nor
frost may offend them, and they will keep all Winter for your use.
16. At the latter end of September, take some dead carrion that hath
some maggots bred in it, which are beginning to creep; bury all deep in
the ground, that the frost kill them not, and they will serve in March
or April following, to use.
17. To find the flag-worm, do thus: go to an old pond, or pit, where
there are store of flags, or, as some call them, sedges, pull some up
by the roots, then shake those roots in the water, till all the mud
and dirt be washed away from them, then amongst the small strings or
fibres that grow to the roots, you will find little husks or cases
of a reddish, or yellowish, and some of other colours; open these
carefully with a pin, and you will find in them a little small worm,
white as a gentle, but longer and thinner; this is an excellent bait
for the Tench, the Bream, and especially the Carp: if you pull the
flags-asunder, and cut open the round stalk, you will also find a worm
like the former in the husks; but tougher, and in that respect better.
CHAP. VII.
OF SEVERAL HAUNTS OR RESORTS OF FISH, AND IN WHAT RIVERS OR PLACES OF
THEM THEY ARE MOST USUALLY FOUND.
This part of our discourse being a discovery of the several places or
rivers each kind of fish do most haunt or covet, and in which they are
ordinarily found.
The several sorts of rivers, streams, soils, and waters they most
frequent, is a matter, in this under-valued art, of no small
importance; for if you come with baits for the Trout, or Umber, and
angle for them in slow muddy rivers or places, you will have little, if
any sport at all: and to seek for Carp or Tench in stony swift rivers,
is equally preposterous; and though I know that sometimes you may meet
with fish in such rivers and places, as they do not usually frequent,
for no general rule but admits of particular exceptions, yet the exact
knowledge of what rivers or soils, or what part of the river, for some
rivers have swift gravely streams, and also slow, deep, muddy places;
such or such sorts of fish do most frequent, will exceedingly adapt
you, to know what rivers, or what part of them are most fit for your
baits, or what baits suit best with each river, and the fish in the
same.
1. The Salmon loves large swift rivers, where there is considerable
ebbing and flowing, and there that fish is found in the greatest
numbers; nevertheless, I have known them to be found in lesser rivers,
high up in the country, yet chiefly in the latter end of the year,
when they come thither to spawn, he chooses the most swift and violent
streams, or rather cataracts, and in England the clearest gravely
rivers usually with rocks or weeds; but in Ireland, I do not know any
river, I mean high in the country, that hath such plenty of them as the
black water, by Charlemont, and the broad water, by Shane’s Castle,
both which have their heads in great bogs, and are of a dark muddy
colour, and very few comparatively in the upper ban, though clearer and
swifter than they.
2. The Trout is found in small purling brooks, or rivers that are very
swift, and run upon stones or gravel; he feeds whilst strong in the
swiftest streams, behind a stone, a log, or some small bank, which,
shooting into the river, the streams beareth upon; and there he lieth
watching for what comes down the stream, and suddenly catches it up.
His hold is usually in the deep, under a hollow place of the bank, or
a stone which lying hollow, he loves exceedingly; and sometimes, but
not so usually, he is found amongst weeds.
3. The Pearch prefers a gentle stream, of a reasonable depth, seldom
shallow, close by a hollow bank; and though these three sorts of fish
covet clear and swift rivers, green weeds, and stony gravel; yet they
are sometimes found, but not in such plenty and goodness, in slow muddy
rivers.
4. Carp, Tench, and Eel, seek mud and a still water; Eels under roots
or stones, a Carp chooseth the deepest and most still place of pond
or river, so does the Tench, and also green weeds, which he likes
exceedingly; the greatest Eels love as before; but the smaller ones are
found in all sorts of rivers and soils.
5. Pike, Bream, and Chub, choose sand or clay: the Bream, a gentle
stream, and the broadest part of the river; the Pike, still pools full
of fry, and shelters himself, the better to surprise his prey unawares,
amongst bull-rushes, water-docks, or under-bushes; the Chub loves the
same ground, but is more rarely found without some tree to shade and
cover him, in large rivers and streams.
6. Barbel, Roach, Dace, and Ruff, seek gravel and sand more than the
Bream, and the deepest parts of the river, where shady trees are more
grateful to them, than to the Chub or Chevin.
7. The Umber seeks marl, clay, clear waters, swift streams, far from
the Sea, for I never saw any taken near it; and the greatest plenty of
them that I know of, are found in the mountainous parts of Derbyshire,
Staffordshire, as Dovetrent, Derwent, &c.
8. Gudgeon desires sandy, gravely, gentle streams, and smaller rivers;
but I have known them taken in great abundance in Trent, in Derbyshire,
where it is very large; but conceive them to be in greater plenty
nearer the head of that river, about or above Heywood: I can say the
same of other rivers, and therefore conceive they love smaller rivers
rather than the large, or the small brooks, for I never found them
in so great plenty in brooks, as small rivers; he bites best in the
Spring, till he spawns, and little after till wasp time.
9. Shad, Thwait, Peel, Mullett, Suant, and Flounder, love chiefly to
be in or near the saltish water, which ebb and flow; I have known the
Flounder taken in good plenty, in fresh rivers; they covet sand and
gravel, deep gentle streams near the bank, or at the end of a stream
in a deep still place: though these rules may, and do hold good in the
general, yet I have found them admit of particular exceptions, but
every man’s habitation engaged him to one, or usually at most, to two
rivers, his own experience will quickly inform him of the nature of the
same, and the fish in them. I would persuade all that love angling,
and desire to be complete Anglers, to spend some time in all sorts of
waters, ponds, rivers, swift and slow, stony, gravely, muddy and slimy;
and to observe all the differences in the nature of the fish, the
waters and baits, and by this means he will be able to take fish where
ever he angles; otherwise, through want of experience, he will be like
the man that could read in no book but his own: besides, a man, his
occasions or desires drawing him from home, must only stand as an idle
spectator, whilst others kill fish, but he none; and so lose the repute
of a complete Angler, how excellent soever he be at his own known river.
Furthermore, you must understand, that as some fish covet one soil
more than another, so they differ in their choice of places, in every
season; some keep all Summer long near the top, some never leave the
bottom; for the former sort you may angle with a quill or small float
near the top, with a fly, or any sort of worm bred on herbs or trees,
or with a fly at the top: the latter sort you will, all Summer long,
find at the tails of wiers, mills, flood-gates, arches of bridges,
or the more shallow parts of the river, in a strong, swift or gentle
stream, except Carp, and Tench, and Eel; in Winter all retreat into
deep still places; where it ebbs and flows, they will sometimes bite
best, but in the ebb most usually; sometimes when it flows, but rarely
at full water, near the arches of Bridges, wiers, or flood-gates.
CHAP. VIII.
WHAT TIMES ARE UNSEASONABLE TO ANGLE IN.
There being a time for all things, in which with ease and facility
the same may be accomplished, and most difficult, if not impossible,
at another: the skill and knowledge how to choose the best season to
angle, and how to avoid the contrary, come next to be handled; which I
shall do first negatively, viz. what times are unfit to angle; and then
affirmatively, which are the best seasons.
1. When the earth is parched with a great drought, so that the rivers
run with a much less current than is usual, it is to no purpose to
angle; and indeed the heat of the day in Summer, except cooled by
winds, and shallowed with clouds, though there be no drought, you will
find very little sport, especially in muddy, or very shallow and clear
rivers.
2. In cold, frosty, snowy weather, I know the fish must eat in all
seasons, and that a man may kill fish when he must first break the ice;
yet I conceive the sport is not then worth pursuing, the extreme cold
taking away the delight, besides the endangering health, if not life,
by those colds, which at least cause rhumes and coughs: wherefore I
leave Winter and night angling, to such strong healthful bodies, whose
extraordinary delight in angling, or those whose necessity enforceth
them to seek profit by their recreation, in such unseasonable times.
3. When there happens any small frost, all that day after the fish will
not rise freely and kindly, except in the evening, and that the same
prove very pleasant.
4. If the wind be very high, so that you cannot guide your tools to
advantage.
5. When shepherds or countrymen wash their sheep, though while they are
washing, I mean the first time only, the fish will bite exceedingly
well; I suppose the filth that falls from the sheep draws them, as like
baiting a place together, and then they so glut themselves, that till
the whole washing time be over, and they have digested their fulness;
they will not take any artificial baits.
6. Sharp, bitter, nipping winds, which most usually blow out of the
North or East especially, blast your recreation; but this is rather the
season than the wind, though I also judge those winds have a secret
malign quality to hinder the recreation.
7. After any sort of fish have spawned, they will not bite any thing to
purpose, until they have recovered their strength and former appetite.
8. When any clouds arise, that will certainly bring a shower or storm,
though in the midst of Summer, they will not bite: I have observed,
that though the fish bite most eagerly, and to your heart’s content,
yet upon the first appearing of any clouds, that will certainly bring
rain, though my own judgment could not then apprehend, or in the least
conjecture, that a storm was arising, they have immediately left off
biting; and that has been all given me to understand that a shower was
coming, and that it was prudent to seek shelter against the same.
CHAP. IX.
THE BEST TIMES AND SEASONS TO ANGLE.
We now come to the affirmative part, which is the best season to angle,
that as before, we discovered when it would be lost labour to seek
recreation; so now you may learn to improve opportunity, when it offers
itself to best advantage.
1. Calm, clear, or which is better, cool cloudy weather in Summer, the
wind blowing gently, so as you may guide your tools with ease; in the
hottest months, the cooler the better.
2. When the floods have carried away all the filth that the rain had
washed from the higher grounds into the river, and that the river keeps
his usual bounds, and appears of a whey colour.
3. When a sudden violent shower hath a little mudded and raised the
river, then if you go forth in, or immediately after such a shower, and
angle in the stream at the ground, with a red worm chiefly; if there be
store of fish in the river, you will have sport to your own desire.
4. A little before any fish spawn, your own observation will inform
you of the time, by the fulness of their bellies, they come into the
gravely, sandy fords, to rub and loosen their bellies, and then they
bite very freely.
5. When rivers after rain do rise, yet so as that they keep within
their banks, in swift rivers the violence of the stream forces the
fish to seek shelter and quiet ease; in the little and milder currents
of small brooks, where they fall into larger rivers, and behind the
ends of bridges that are longer than the breadth of the river, making
a low vacancy, where the bridge defends a small spot of ground from
the violence of the stream, or in any low place near the river’s side,
where the fish may lie at rest, and secure from the disturbance of the
rapid stream; in such a place, not being very deep, and at such a time,
you will find sport: as regards myself, I have ever found it equal to
the best season.
6. For Carp and Tench early in the morning, from sun rising, until
eight of the clock, and from four after noon, till night; and from sun
set, till far in the night in the hot months.
7. In March, in the beginning of April, and at the latter end of
September, and all Winter, fish bite best in the warmth of the day,
when no winds are stirring, and the air quite clear. In Summer months,
morning and evening are best, or cool cloudy weather: if you can find
shelter, no matter how high the wind be.
8. Fish rise best at the fly, after a shower that has not mudded the
water, yet has beaten the gnats and flies into the rivers; you may in
such a shower observe them rise much, if you will endure the rain;
also the best months for the fly, are March, April, May, and part of
June; in the cooler months, in the warmest time of the day; or in warm
weather, about nine in the morning, three in the afternoon, if any
gentle gale blow; sometimes in a warm evening, when the gnats play much.
9. Also after the river is cleared from a flood, they rise exceeding
well; I conceive that being glutted with ground-baits, they now covet
the fly, having wanted it a time.
10. A Trout bites best in a muddy rising water, in dark, cloudy, windy
weather, early in the morning, from half an hour after eight, till
ten; and in the afternoon, from three, till after four, and sometimes
in the evening; but about nine in the morning, and about three in the
afternoon, are his chief and most constant hours of biting at ground
or fly, as the water suits either; March, April, May, and part of
June, are his chief months, though he bites well in July, August and
September. After a shower in the evening, he rises well at gnats.
11. Salmon, at three in the afternoon, chiefly in May, June, July, and
August, with a clear water and some wind. He bites best when the wind
is blowing against the stream, and near the sea.
12. Carp and Tench, morning and evening, very early and late, June,
July and August, or indeed in the night.
13. A Chevin, from sun rising or earlier, at snails especially; for in
the heat of the day he cares not for them, in June and July till about
eight, again at three in the afternoon at ground, or fly; and his chief
fly which he most delights in, is a great moth, with a very great head,
not unlike to an owl, with whitish wings, and yellowish body, you may
find them flying abroad in Summer evenings in gardens, when some wind
is stirring, in large rivers chiefly, streams or shade. He will take
a small lamprey, or seven-eyes, an eel-brood, either of them about a
straw’s bigness.
14. Pike bites best at three in the afternoon, in a clear water,
accompanied by a gentle gale, in July, August, September, and October.
15. Bream, from about sun rising, till eight, in a muddy water, a good
gale of wind; and in ponds, the higher the better, and where the waves
are highest, and nearer the middle of the pond, the better; from the
end of May, June, July especially, and August.
16. Roach and Dace all day long; best at the top, at fly, or oak-worm
principally, and at all other worms bred on herbs or trees, palmers,
caterpillars, &c. in plain rivers or ponds, under water-dock leaves, or
under shady trees.
17. Gudgeon from April, and till he have spawned in May, and a little
after that, till wasp time, and then to the end of the year, all day
long.
18. Flounder all day in April, May, June, and July.
CHAP. X.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
1. Let the Angler’s apparel be sad dark colours, as sad grey’s, tawny,
purple, hair, or musk colour.
2. Use shoe-maker’s wax to your silk or thread, with which you make or
mend either rod or fly; it holds firmer, and sticks better than any
other.
3. Into such places as you use to angle at, once a week at least, cast
in all sorts of corn boiled soft, grains washed in blood, blood dried
and cut into pieces, snails, worms chopped small, pieces of fowl, or
beast’s guts, beast’s livers; for Carp and Tench you cannot feed too
often, or too much; this course draweth the fish to the place you
desire. And to keep them together, cast about twenty grains of ground
malt at a time, now and then as you angle; and indeed all sorts of
baits are good to cast in, especially whilst you are angling with that
bait, principally cad-bait, gentles, and wasps, and you will find
they will snap up yours more eagerly, and with less suspicion; but by
no means, when you angle in a stream cast them in at your hook, but
something above where you angle, lest the stream carry them beyond your
hook, and so instead of drawing them to you, you draw them from you.
4. Destroy all beasts or birds that devour the fish or their spawn,[4]
as the
[Illustration: OTTER]
&c. and endeavour, whether in authority or not, to see all statutes put
in execution, against such as use unlawful nets, or means to take fish;
especially bar-netting and night-hooking.
[4] THE OTTER’S ORATION.
Why stand we beasts abasht, or spare to speake?
Why make wee not a vertue of our need?
We know by proofe, in wit wee are to weake,
And weaker much, because all Adams seed,
(Which beare away the waight of wit indeed)
Do dayly seeke our names for to distaine,
With slanderous blotte, for which we Beasts be slaine.
First of my selfe, before the rest to treate,
Most men cry out, that fishe I do deuoure,
Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate:
I graunt to both, and he that hath the powre,
To feede on fish that sweeter were than sowre,
And hath yong flesh to banquet at his fill,
Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes or swill.
But master Man, which findeth all this fault,
And streynes deuise for many a daynty dishe,
Which suffreth not that hunger him assault,
But feedes his fill on euery flesh and fishe,
Which must haue all, as much as witte can wish,
Us seely Beasts, deuouring Beasts do call,
And he himsefe, most bloody beaste of all.
Well yet me thinks, I heare him preach this Text,
How all that is, was made for vse of man:
So was it sure, but therewith followes next,
This heauy place, expound it who so can:
The very scourge and plague of God his Ban,
Will light on such as queyntly can deuise,
To eat more meate, then may thir mouthes suffise.
Now master Man stand forth and here declare,
Who euer yet could see an Otter eate,
More meate at once, then serued for his share?
Who sees vs beasts sitte bybbing in our seate
With sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate?
Which breede disease, yfostred in such feastes,
If men do so, be they not worse than beasts?
The beastly man, must sitte al day and quaffe,
The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twise a day,
The beastly man, must stuffe his monstrous masse
With secrete cause of surfeiting alway;
Where beasts be glad to feede when they get prey,
And neuer eate more than may do them good,
Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode.
Who sees a Beast, for sauery Sawces long?
Who sees a beast, or chicke or Capon cramme?
Who sees a beast, once luld on sleepe with song?
Who sees a beast make venson of a Ramme?
Who sees a Beast destroy bothe whelpe and damme?
Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie?
Which man doth vse, for great Cinilytie.
I know not I, if dyuing be my fault,
Me thinks most men, can dine as well as I:
Some men can diue in Seller and in vault,
In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and in Buttery
To smell the Roste, whereof the fume doth flee:
And as for games, men dine in every streame,
All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame.
So to conclude, when men their faults can mend,
And shunne the shame, where with they beasts do blot,
When men their time and treasure not mispend,
But follow grace, which is with paines ygot,
When men can vice rebuke, and vse it not:
Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame,
And else, they be but _Beasts_ well worthy blame.
_Noble Art of Venerie_, 1611, _4to._ pp. 201-203.
5. Get your rods and tops without knots, they are dangerous for
breaking.
6. Keep your rod dry, lest it rot, and not near the fire, lest it grow
brittle.
7. In drought, wet your rod a little before you begin to angle.
8. Lob-worms, dew-worms, and great garden worms, all one.
9. When you angle at ground, or with the natural fly, your line must
not exceed the length of your rod. For the Trout at ground, it must be
shorter, and in some cases, not half the length as in small brooks or
woody rivers, either at ground, or with the natural fly.
10. When you have hooked a good fish, have an especial care to keep
your rod bent, lest he run to the line, and break your hook, or his
hold.
11. Such tops or stocks as you get, must not be used till fully
seasoned, which will not be in one year and a quarter, but I like them
better if kept till they be two years old.