provisions made against the destruction of fish and though I profess no knowledge of the law, yet I am sure the regulation of these defects might be easily mended. But I remember that a wise friend of mine did usually say, "That which is everybody's business is nobody's business :" if it were otherwise, there could not be so many nets and fish, that are under the statute size, sold daily amongst us; and of which the conservators of the waters should be ashamed.*

But, above all, the taking fish in spawning-time may be said to be against nature it is like taking the dam on the nest when she hatches her young, a sin so against nature that Almighty God hath in the Levitical law made a law against it.†

But the poor fish have enemies enough besides such unnatural fishermen ; as, namely, the Otters that I spake of, the Cormorant, the Bittern, the Osprey, the Seagull, the Hern, the King-fisher, the Gorara, the Puet, the Swan, Goose, Duck, and the Craber, which some call the Water-rat: against all which any honest man may make a just quarrel, but I will not; I will leave them to be quarrelled with and killed by others, for I am not of a cruel nature, I love to kill nothing but fish.

And, now, to your question concerning your host. To speak truly, he is not to me a good companion, for most of his conceits were either Scripture jests, or lascivious jests; for which I count no man witty for the devil will help a man, that way inclined, to the first; and his own corrupt nature, which he always carries with him, to the latter. But a companion that feasts the company said waters in the time aforesaid. And in the parts where such rivers be, there shall be assigned and sworn good and sufficient conservators of this statute, as it is ordained in the said Statute of Westminster, and that they shall punish the offenders after the pain contained in the same statute, without any favour thereof to be showed.'

By Statute 17 Rich. II. c. 9, all justices of the peace were constituted conservators of the stat. 13 Edw. I., with power to appoint under-conservators; and the lord mayor was appointed conservator of that statute in the Thames. Various statutes have since been enacted for preserving the spawn and fry of fish. See Index to the Statutes at Large, articles" Fish," "Salmon," and "Rivers."

In the 8 Rich. II., 1384, the Commons complained that in the Thames, Medway, and other great rivers, there was an abundance of the fry of fish, that is to say, of "Troutes, Samons, Pykes, Roches, Barbils," and other fish, which fry, if preserved, would produce great profit to the lords and commons of the land; but that diverse persons dwelling near those rivers, took the fry with their "subtils reetz," and other "subtils instru ments," and sold it as food for pigs for a penny a bushel, and sometimes for six eggs a bushel. They therefore prayed that no fish might be taken with any net unless the mesh was of the size ordained by the former statute. The king commanded that the said statute should be kept and put in due execution. Rot. Parl. vol. iii. p. 200.

*See note to page 63.

†The command alluded to occurs in Deuteronomy, chap. xxii. ver. 6 and 7: "If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young: but thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days."

with wit and mirth, and leaves out the sin which is usually mixed with them, he is the man; and indeed such a companion should have his charges borne; and to such company I hope to bring you this night; for at Trout-hall, not far from this place, where I purpose to lodge to-night,* there is usually an Angler that proves good company. And let me tell you, good company and good discourse are the very sinews of virtue. But for such discourse as we heard last night, it infects others: the very boys will learn to talk and swear, as they heard mine host, and another of the company that shall be nameless. I am sorry the other is a gentleman, for less religion will not save their souls than a beggar's I think more will be required at the last great day. Well! you know what example is able to do; and I know what the poet says in the like case, which is worthy to be noted by all parents and people of civility:

:

This is reason put into verse, and worthy the consideration of a wise man. But of this no more; for though I love civility, yet I hate severe censures. I'll to my own art; and I doubt not but at yonder tree I shall catch a Chub: and then we'll turn to an honest cleanly hostess, that I know right well; rest ourselves there; and dress it for our dinner.

VENATOR. Oh, Sir! a Chub is the worst fish that swims; I hoped for a Trout to my dinner.

PISCATOR. Trust me, Sir, there is not a likely place for a Trout hereabout and we stayed so long to take our leave of your hunts

:

VARIATION.

5 But for such discourse as we heard last night, it infects others; the very boys will learn to talk and swear as they heard mine host, and another of the company that shall be nameless, ["I am sorry the other is a gentleman "—" at the last great day"] well, you know what example is able to do, and I know what the poet says in the like case, which is worthy to be noted by all parents and people of civility.

Many a one, &c.

1st edit., the words in italic were added to the 2d, and those in brackets to the 3d edit.

Trout-hall was probably a name given by Anglers to some little inn which they were in the habit of frequenting, and possibly the sign was a Trout. Piscator did not, how ever, fulfil his intention of sleeping at Trout-hall, because we find that his scholar and himself returned and slept at the alehouse where they dined, and which it would appear from his conversation with the milkwoman, was called Bleak-hall. The cause of this alteration in his plan, Piscator seems to explain to Venator, in a subsequent page, where he says they would eat the trout he had caught for supper, and would go to his hostess from whence they came, [because] "on going out of the door, she told him that his brother Peter and a cheerful companion had sent word they would lodge there that night."