The Complete Angler 1653 by Izaak Walton
page 63 of 141 (44%)
page 63 of 141 (44%)
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of _Frog_ that hath her mouth naturally shut up about the end of
_August_, and that she lives so all the Winter, and though it be strange to some, yet it is known to too many amongst us to bee doubted. And so much for these _Fordig Trouts_, which never afford an Angler sport, but either live their time of being in the fresh water by their meat formerly gotten in the Sea, (not unlike the _Swallow_ or _Frog_) or by the vertue of the fresh water only, as the _Camelion_ is said to live by the air. There is also in _Northumberland_, a _Trout_, called a _Bull Trout_, of a much greater length and bignesse then any in these Southern parts; and there is in many Rivers that relate to the Sea, _Salmon Trouts_ as much different one from another, both in shape and in their spots, as we see Sheep differ one from another in their shape and bigness, and in the finess of their wool: and certainly as some Pastures do breed larger Sheep, so do some Rivers, by reason of the ground over which they run, breed larger _Trouts_. Now the next thing that I will commend to your consideration is, That the _Trout_ is of a more sudden growth then other fish: concerning which you are also to take notice, that he lives not so long as the _Pearch_ and divers other fishes do, as Sir _Francis Bacon_ hath observed in his History of life and death. And next, you are to take notice, that after hee is come to his full growth, he declines in his bodie, but keeps his bigness or thrives in his head till his death. And you are to know that he wil about (especially before) the time of his Spawning, get almost miraculously through _Weires_ and _Floud-Gates_ against the stream, even through |
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