And, scholar, there is also a FLOUNDER, a sea-fish which will wander
very far into fresh rivers, and there lose himself and dwell: and thrive
to a hand's breadth, and almost twice so long: a fish without scales,
and most excellent meat: and a fish that affords much sport to the
angler, with any small worm, but especially a little bluish worm, gotten
out of marsh-ground, or meadows, which should be well scoured. But this,
though it be most excellent meat, yet it wants scales, and is, as I told
you, therefore an abomination to the Jews.
But, scholar, there is a fish that they in Lancashire boast very much
of, called a CHAR; taken there, and I think there only, in a mere called
Winander Mere; a mere, says Camden, that is the largest in this nation,
being ten miles in length, and some say as smooth in the bottom as if it
were paved with polished marble. This fish never exceeds fifteen or
sixteen inches in length; and is spotted like a Trout: and has scarce a
bone, but on the back. But this, though I do not know whether it make
the angler sport, yet I would have you take notice of it, because it is
a rarity, and of so high esteem with persons of great note.
Nor would I have you ignorant of a rare fish called a GUINIAD; of which
I shall tell you what Camden and others speak. The river Dee, which runs
by Chester, springs in Merionethshire; and, as it runs toward Chester,
it runs through Pemble Mere, which is a large water: and it is observed,
that though the river Dee abounds with Salmon, and Pemble mere with the
Guiniad, yet there is never any Salmon caught in the mere, nor a
Guiniad in the river. And now my next observation shall be of the
Barbel.
The fourth day-continued
Of the Barbel
Chapter XIV
Piscator, Venator, Milk-woman
Piscator. The Barbel is so called, says Gesner, by reason of his barb or
wattles at his mouth, which are under his nose or chaps. He is one of
those leather-mouthed fishes that I told you of, that does very seldom
break his hold if he be once hooked: but he is so strong, that he will
often break both rod and line, if he proves to be a big one.
But the Barbel, though he be of a fine shape, and looks big, yet he is
not accounted the best fish to eat, neither for his wholesomeness nor
his taste; but the male is reputed much better than the female, whose
spawn is very hurtful, as I will presently declare to you.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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