When you have scaled him, and cut off his tail and fins, and washed him
very clean, then chine or slit him through the middle, as a salt-fish is
usually cut; then give him three or four cuts or scotches on the back
with your knife, and broil him on charcoal, or wood coal, that are free
from smoke; and all the time he is a-broiling, baste him with the best
sweet butter, and good store of salt mixed with it. And, to this, add a
little thyme cut exceedingly small, or bruised into the butter. The
Cheven thus dressed hath the watery taste taken away, for which so many
except against him. Thus was the Cheven dressed that you now liked so
well, and commended so much. But note again, that if this Chub that you
eat of had been kept till to-morrow, he had not been worth a rush. And
remember, that his throat be washed very clean, I say very clean, and
his body not washed after he is gutted, as indeed no fish should be.
Well, scholar, you see what pains I have taken to recover the lost
credit of the poor despised Chub. And now I will give you some rules how
to catch him: and I am glad to enter you into the art of fishing by
catching a Chub, for there is no fish better to enter a young Angler, he
is so easily caught, but then it must be this particular way:
Go to the same hole in which I caught my Chub, where, in most hot days,
you will find a dozen or twenty Chevens floating near the top of the
water. Get two or three grasshoppers, as you go over the meadow: and get
secretly behind the tree, and stand as free from motion as is possible.
Then put a grasshopper on your hook, and let your hook hang a quarter of
a yard short of the water, to which end you must rest your rod on some
bough of the tree. But it is likely the Chubs will sink down towards the
bottom of the water, at the first shadow of your rod (for Chub is the
fearfullest of fishes), and will do so if but a bird flies over him and
makes the least shadow on the water; but they will presently rise up to
the top again, and there lie soaring till some shadow affrights them
again. I say, when they lie upon the top of the water, look out the best
Chub, which you, setting yourself in a fit place, may very easily see,
and move your rod, as softly as a snail moves, to that Chub you intend
to catch; let your bait fall gently upon the water three or four inches
before him, and he will infallibly take the bait. And you will be as
sure to catch him; for he is one of the leather-mouthed fishes, of which
a hook does scarce ever lose its hold; and therefore give him play
enough before you offer to take him out of the water. Go your way
presently; take my rod, and do as I bid you; and I will sit down and
mend my tackling till you return back.
Venator. Truly, my loving master, you have offered me as fair as I could
wish. I'll go and observe your directions.
Look you, master, what I have done, that which joys my heart, caught
just such another Chub as yours was.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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