《the compleat angler(垂钓大全)》

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than a pound; or if he be less; then less butter will suffice: These; being 

thus mixt; with a blade or two of mace; must be put into the Pike's belly; 

and then his belly so sewed up as to keep all the butter in his belly if it be 

possible; if not; then as much of it as you possibly can。 But take not off the 

scales。 Then you are to thrust the spit through his mouth; out at his tail。 

And   then   take   four   or   five   or   six   split   sticks;   or   very   thin   laths;   and   a 



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convenient   quantity   of   tape   or   filleting;   these   laths   are   to   be   tied   round 

about the Pike's body; from his head to his tail; and the tape tied somewhat 

thick;   to   prevent   his   breaking   or   falling   off   from   the   spit。   Let   him   be 

roasted very leisurely; and often basted with claret wine; and anchovies; 

and butter; mixt together; and also with what moisture falls from him into 

the pan。 When   you   have   roasted   him  sufficiently;   you   are   to   hold   under 

him; when you   unwind or   cut the tape   that ties him; such a dish as   you 

purpose   to   eat him  out   of;   and   let him  fall   into   it   with   the   sauce that   is 

roasted in his belly; and by this means the Pike will be kept unbroken and 

complete。 Then; to the sauce which was within; and also that sauce in the 

pan;   you   are   to   add   a   fit   quantity   of   the   best   butter;   and   to   squeeze   the 

juice of three or four oranges。 Lastly; you may either put it into the Pike; 

with   the  oysters;   two   cloves of   garlick;  and   take  it   whole  out;  when   the 

Pike is cut off the spit; or; to give the sauce a haut go 鹴; let the dish into 

which you let the Pike fall be rubbed with it: The using or not using of this 

garlick is left to your discretion。                                 M。 B。〃 

     This dish of meat is too good for any but anglers; or very honest men; 

and I trust you will prove both; and therefore I have trusted you with this 

secret。 

     Let me next tell you; that Gesner tells us; there are no Pikes in Spain; 

and that the largest are in the lake Thrasymene in Italy; and the next; if not 

equal to them; are the Pikes of England; and that in England; Lincolnshire 

boasteth to have the biggest。 Just so doth Sussex boast of four sorts of fish; 

namely; an Arundel Mullet; a Chichester Lobster; a Shelsey Cockle; and an 

Amerly Trout。 

     But I will take up no more of your time with this relation; but proceed 

to give you some Observations of the Carp; and how to angle for him; and 

to dress him but not till he is caught。 



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                The fourth day … continued 



                                        On the Carp 



                                       Chapter IX 



                                           Piscator 

     The Carp is the queen of rivers; a stately; a good; and a very subtil fish; 

that   was   not   at   first   bred;   nor   hath   been   long   in   England;   but   is   now 

naturalised。   It   is   said;   they   were   brought   hither   by   one   Mr。   Mascal;   a 

gentleman   that   then   lived   at   Plumsted   in   Sussex;   a   county   that   abounds 

more with this fish than any in this nation。 

     You may remember that I told you Gesner says there are no Pikes in 

Spain;   and   doubtless   there   was   a   time;   about   a   hundred   or   a   few   more 

years   ago;   when   there   were   no   Carps   in   England;   as   may   seem   to   be 

affirmed   by   Sir   Richard   Baker;   in   whose   Chronicle   you   may   find   these 

verses: 

     Hops and turkies; carps and beer; Came into England all in a year。 

     And doubtless; as of sea…fish the Herring dies soonest out of the water; 

and of fresh…water fish the Trout; so; except the Eel; the Carp endures most 

hardness; and lives longest out of its own proper element; and; therefore; 

the  report   of the   Carp's being   brought   out   of   a   foreign   country  into   this 

nation is the more probable。 

     Carps and Loaches are observed to breed several months in one year; 

which Pikes and most other fish do not; and this is partly proved by tame 

and wild rabbits; as also by some ducks; which will lay eggs nine of the 

twelve months; and yet there be other ducks that lay not longer than about 

one month。 And it is the rather to be believed; because you shall scarce or 

never take a male Carp without a melt; or a female without a roe or spawn; 

and   for the   most   part   very   much;   and   especially  all   the   summer   season; 

and it is observed; that they breed more naturally in ponds than in running 

waters; if they breed there at all; and that those that live in rivers are taken 

by men of the best palates to be much the better meat。 

     And it is observed that in some ponds Carps will not breed; especially 



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in   cold    ponds;    but   where    they    will  breed;    they   breed    innumerably: 

Aristotle and Pliny say six times in a year; if there be no Pikes nor Perch to 

devour their spawn; when it is cast upon grass or flags; or weeds; where it 

lies ten or twelve days before it be enlivened 

     The Carp; if he have water…room and good feed; will grow to a very 

great bigness and length; I have heard; to be much above a yard long。 It is 

said   by   Jovius;   who   hath   writ   of   fishes;   that   in   the   lake   Lurian   in   Italy; 

Carps have thriven to be more than fifty pounds weight: which is the more 

probable; for as the bear is conceived and born suddenly; and being born is 

but short lived; so; on the contrary; the elephant is said to be two years in 

his dam's belly; some think he is ten years in it; and being born; grows in 

bigness twenty years; and it is observed too; that he lives to the age of a 

hundred years。 And 'tis also observed; that the crocodile is very long…lived; 

and more than that; that all that long life he thrives in bigness; and so I 

think some Carps do; especially in some places; though I never saw one 

above twenty…three   inches;  which was   a great   and goodly  fish; but  have 

been assured there are of a far greater size; and in England too。 

     Now; as the increase of Carps is wonderful for their number; so there is 

not   a   reason   found   out;  I think;  by  any;  why  they  should   breed in   some 

ponds;     and   not   in  others;    of  the   same    nature   for   soil  and   all  other 

circumstances。       And     as  their   breeding;    so   are   their  decays    also   very 

mysterious:   I   have   both   read   it;   and   been   told   by   a   gentleman   of   tried 

honesty;   that   he   has   known   sixty   or   more   large   Carps   put   into   several 

ponds near to a house; where by reason of the stakes in the ponds; and the 

owner's   constant   being   near   to   them;   it   was   impossible   they   should   be 

stole   away   from   him;   and   that   when   he   has;   after   three   or   four   years; 

emptied the pond; and expected an increase from them by breeding young 

ones; for that they might do so he had; as the rule is; put in three melters 

for one spawner; he   has; I say;  after three or four   years; found neither   a 

young nor old Carp remaining。 And the like I have known of one that had 

almost watched the pond; and; at a like distance of time; at the fishing of a 

pond; found; of seventy or eighty large Carps; not above five or six: and 

that he had forborne longer to fish the said pond; but that he saw; in a hot 

day in summer; a large Carp swim near the top of the water with a frog 



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upon his head; and that he; upon that occasion; caused his pond to be let 

dry: and I say; of seventy or eighty Carps; only found five or six in the said 

pond; and those very sick and lean; and with every one a frog sticking so 

fast   on   the   head   of   the   said   Carps;   that   the   frog   would   not   be   got   off 

without extreme force or killing。 And the gentleman that did affirm this to 

me; told me he saw it; and did declare his belief to be; and I also believe 

the same; that he thought the other Carps; that were so strangely lost; were 

so killed by the frogs; and then devoured。 

     And a person of honour; now living in Worcestershire; assured me he 

had seen a necklace; or collar of tadpoles; hang like a chain or necklace of 

beads   about   a   Pike's   neck;  and   to   kill   him
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