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Topsel； taken to be venomous； and so is the paddock； or frog…paddock；
which usually keeps or breeds on the land； and is very large and bony； and
big； especially the she…frog of that kind： yet these will sometimes come
into the water； but it is not often： and the land…frogs are some of them
observed by him； to breed by laying eggs； and others to breed of the slime
and dust of the earth； and that in winter they turn to slime again； and that
the next summer that very slime returns to be a living creature； this is the
opinion of Pliny。 And Cardanus undertakes to give a reason for the raining
of frogs： but if it were in my power； it should rain none but water…frogs；
for those I think are not venomous； especially the right water…frog； which；
about February or March； breeds in ditches； by slime； and blackish eggs in
that slime： about which time of breeding； the he and she frogs are
observed to use divers summersaults； and to croak and make a noise；
which the land…frog； or paddock…frog； never does。
Now of these water…frogs； if you intend to fish with a frog for a Pike；
you are to choose the yellowest that you can get； for that the Pike ever
likes best。 And thus use your frog； that he may continue long alive：
Put your hook into his mouth； which you may easily do from the
middle of April till August； and then the frog's mouth grows up； and he
continues so for at least six months without eating； but is sustained； none
but He whose name is Wonderful knows how： I say； put your hook； I mean
the arming…wire； through his mouth； and out at his gills； and then with a
fine needle and silk sew the upper part of his leg； with only one stitch； to
the arming…wire of your hook； or tie the frog's leg； above the upper joint；
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to the armed…wire； and； in so doing； use him as though you loved him； that
is； harm him as little as you may possibly； that he may live the longer。
And now； having given you this direction for the baiting your ledger…
hook with a live fish or frog； my next must be to tell you； how your hook
thus baited must or may be used； and it is thus： having fastened your hook
to a line； which if it be not fourteen yards long should not be less than
twelve； you are to fasten that line to any bough near to a hole where a Pike
is； or is likely to lie； or to have a haunt； and then wind your line on any
forked stick； all your line； except half a yard of it or rather more； and split
that forked stick； with such a nick or notch at one end of it as may keep the
line from any more of it ravelling from about the stick than so much of it
as you intend。 And choose your forked stick to be of that bigness as may
keep the fish or frog from pulling the forked stick under the water till the
Pike bites； and then the Pike having pulled the line forth of the cleft or
nick of that stick in which it was gently fastened； he will have line enough
to go to his hold and pouch the bait And if you would have this ledger…bait
to keep at a fixt place undisturbed by wind or other accidents which may
drive it to the shore… side； for you are to note； that it is likeliest to catch a
Pike in the midst of the water； then hang a small plummet of lead； a stone；
or piece of tile； or a turf； in a string； and cast it into the water with the
forked stick to hang upon the ground； to be a kind of anchor to keep the
forked stick from moving out of your intended place till the Pike come：
this I take to be a very good way to use so many ledger…baits as you intend
to make trial o*
Or if you bait your hooks thus with live fish or frogs； and in a windy
day； fasten them thus to a bough or bundle of straw； and by the help of that
wind can get them to move across a pond or mere； you are like to stand
still on the shore and see sport presently； if there be any store of Pikes。 Or
these live baits may make sport； being tied about the body or wings of a
goose or duck； and she chased over a pond。 And the like may be done with
turning three or four live baits； thus fastened to bladders； or boughs； or
bottles of hay or flags； to swim down a river； whilst you walk quietly
a＇one on the shore； and are still in expectaion of sport。 The rest must be
taught you by practice； for time will not allow me to say more of this kind
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of fishing with live baits。
And for your DEAD…BAIT for a Pike： for that you may be taught by
one day's going a…fishing with me； or any other body that fishes for him；
for the baiting your hook with a dead gudgeon or a roach； and moving it
up and down the water； is too easy a thing to take up any time to direct
you to do it。 And yet； because I cut you short in that； I will commute for it
by telling you that that was told me for a secret： it is this： Dissolve gum of
ivy in oil of spike； and therewith anoint your dead bait for a Pike； and then
cast it into a likely place； and when it has lain a short time at the bottom；
draw it towards the top of the water； and so up the stream； and it is more
than likely that you have a Pike follow with more than common eagerness。
And some affirm； that any bait anointed with the marrow of the thigh…bone
of a heron is a great temptation to any fish。
These have not been tried by me； but told me by a friend of note； that
pretended to do me a courtesy。 But if this direction to catch a Pike thus do
you no good； yet I am certain this direction how to roast him when he is
caught is choicely good； for I have tried it； and it is somewhat the better
for not being common。 But with my direction you must take this caution；
that your Pike must not be a small one； that is； it must be more than half a
yard； and should be bigger。
〃First； open your Pike at the gills； and if need be； cut also a little slit
towards the belly。 Out of these； take his guts； and keep his liver； which you
are to shred very small； with thyme； sweet marjoram； and a little winter…
savoury； to these put some pickled oysters； and some anchovies； two or
three； both these last whole； for the anchovies will melt； and the oysters
should not； to these； you must add also a pound of sweet butter； which you
are to mix with the herbs that are shred； and let them all be well salted。 If
the Pike be more than a yard long； then you may put into these herbs more
than a pound； or if he be less； then less butter will suffice： These； being
thus mixt； with a blade o