xi

CONTENTS.

PART I.

First Day.

CHAPTER I. A Dialogue between PISCATOR (an Angler), VENATOR (a Hunter),
and AUCEPS (a Falconer)

PAGE

13

Second Day.

II. Of the OTTER, Otter-hunting, and Observations about the Habits

III. How to fish for and cook the CHAVENDER or CHUB.

44

52

IV. Observations (by no means sound) of the Nature and Breeding of
the TROUT, and how to fish for him; the Milkmaid's Song.

V. More Directions how to fish for, and how to make for the TROUT

an artificial Minnow and Flies

60

70

Fourth Day.

VI. Observations of the UMBER or GRAYLING; and Directions how to

fish for him

.

VII. Observations of the SALMON; Directions how to fish for him

VIII. Observations of the PIKE; Directions how to fish for him

IX. Observations of the CARP; Directions how to fish for him

X. Observations of the BREAM; and Directions to catch him

XI. Observations of the TENCH; Advice how to angle for him

XII. Observations of the PERCH; Directions how to fish for him

XIII. Observations of the EEL, and other Fish that want Scales; and

how to fish for them

106

XIV. Observations of the BARBEL; Directions how to fish for him

XV. Observations of the GUDGEON, the RUFFE, and the BLEAK; and

how to fish for them

XVI. Is of Nothing, or that which is Nothing worth

Fifth (last) Day.

XVII. Of ROACH and DACE, and how to fish for them; and of CADIS.

XVIII. Of the MINNOW or PENK, of the LOACH, and of the BULL-HEAD or

MILLER'S THUMB

CHAPTER XIX. Of several Rivers; and some Observations of Fish

XX. Of Fish-Ponds, and how to order them

XXI. Directions for making of a Line, and for the colouring of both Rod

and Line

PAGE

213

217

The First and Second Days contain a Chapter, simply conversational, each.
The Third Day, two Chapters and a half on Chub and Trout Fishing.
The Fourth Day begins in the middle of the Fifth Chapter, and extends to
the Sixteenth Chapter, inclusive. The Fifth Day, comprising five Chapters,
by no means interesting ones to the mere angler, terminates the First Part
of" The Complete Angler." Piscator and Venator intended to angle for two
or three days only: love of the art caused them to prolong their teaching,
study, and practice of it.

223

CHAPTER I.
II.

III.

PART II.

First Bay.

A Dialogue between PISCATOR JUNIOR (Cotton) and VIATOR (the
Venator of the First Part of the Book). All these Chapters

are initiatory, chiefly descriptive of the River Dove and other

vicinous Rivers, and of Beresford

Second Day.

IV. Angling at the "Top," at the "Middle," and at the "Bottom"

V. Of Fly-fishing and Fly-Making

. 243

. 274

VI. A practical Lesson on Fly-Fishing for Trout and Grayling

VII. Lists of Artificial Flies for the Months of January, February,

March, April, and May; showing also how to dib or dape with

the Green-Drake or May-Fly, and how to make that famous Fly

artificially
281

VIII. Of the Stone-Fly; also a List of Flies for June, July, August,

September, October, November, and December; with some

good Remarks on the Green-Drake, and Stone-Fly, and on

Poaching.

Third (last) Bay.

IX. A Short Dialogue, and a Lapse in Angling on the Part of Piscator.

Viator fishes successfully by himself

295

XII. Contains Directions touching Angling at the Middle with a Min-

now for Trout, and with a Worm, Grub, or Cadis for a Grayling.

Farewell between PISCATOR JUNIOR and VIATOR.

X. Showing how Trout and Grayling are best cooked

XI. Teaches the Art of Angling at the Bottom with Worms, Grubs,

and Cadis.

. 302

803

305

310

CONFERENCE BETWIXT AN ANGLER, A HUNTER, AND A FALCONER; EACH COMMENDING HIS RECREATION.

[First Day.]

PISCATOR, VENATOR, AUCEPS.

PISCATOR. You are well overtaken, Gentlemen; a good morning to you both; I have stretched my legs up Tottenhamhill to overtake you, hoping your business may occasion you towards Ware, whither I am going this fine, fresh May morning.

VENATOR. Sir, I for my part shall almost answer your hopes; for my purpose is to drink my morning's draught at the Thatched-house in Hoddesden, and I think not to rest till I come thither, where I have appointed a friend or two to

meet me but for this gentleman that you see with me, I know not how far he intends his journey; he came so lately into my company, that I have scarce had time to ask him the question.

AUCEPS. Sir, I shall, by your favour, bear you company as far as Theobald's,* and there leave you; for then I turn up to a friend's house who mews a hawk for me, which I now long to see.

VEN. Sir, we are all so happy as to have a fine, fresh, cool morning; and I hope we shall each be the happier in the other's company. And, gentlemen, that I may not lose yours, I shall either abate or amend my pace to enjoy it; knowing that, as the Italians say, "Good company in a journey makes the way to seem the shorter."

Auc. It may do so, sir, with the help of good discourse, which methinks we may promise from you that both look and speak so cheerfully; and for my part I promise you, as an invitation to it, that I will be as free and open-hearted as discretion will allow me to be with strangers.

VEN. And, sir, I promise the like.

PISC. I am right glad to hear your answers, and in confidence you speak the truth, I shall put on a boldness to ask you, sir, whether business or pleasure caused you to be so early up, and walk so fast; for this other gentleman hath declared that he is going to see a hawk that a friend mews for him.

VEN. Sir, mine is a mixture of both, a little business and more pleasure; for I intend this day to do all my business, and then bestow another day or two in hunting the Otter, which a friend, that I go to meet, tells me is much pleasanter than any other chase whatsoever: howsoever, I mean to try it; for to-morrow morning we shall meet a pack of Otter-dogs of noble Mr. Sadler's, upon Amwell-hill, who will be there so early that they intend to prevent [forestall] the sun-rising.

PISC. Sir, my fortune has answered my desires, and my purpose is to bestow a day or two in helping to destroy some of those villanous vermin; for I hate them perfectly, because they love fish so well, or rather, because they destroy so much; indeed so much that, in my judgment, all men that keep Otter-dogs ought to have pensions from the king, to encourage

* A house built by Lord Burleigh in Herts, and by his son, an Earl of Salisbury, exchanged with James I. for Hatfield-house.