is tail.

But, my Scholer, the _Pearch_ is not only valiant to defend himself,
but he is (as you said) a bold biting fish, yet he will not bite at
all seasons of the yeer; he is very abstemious in Winter; and hath been
observed by some, not usually to bite till the _Mulberry tree_ buds,
that is to say, till extreme Frosts be past for that Spring; for when
the _Mulberry tree_ blossomes, many Gardners observe their forward
fruit to be past the danger of Frosts, and some have made the like
observation of the _Pearches_ biting.

But bite the _Pearch_ will, and that very boldly, and as one has
wittily observed, if there be twentie or fortie in a hole, they may be
at one standing all catch'd one after another; they being, as he saies,
like the wicked of the world, not afraid, though their fellowes and
companions perish in their sight.

[Illustration of a Pearch]

And the baits for this bold fish are not many; I mean, he will bite
as well at some, or at any of these three, as at any or all others
whatsoever; a _Worm_, a _Minnow_, or a little _Frog_ (of which you may
find many in hay time) and of _worms_, the Dunghill worm, called a
_brandling_, I take to be best, being well scowred in Moss or Fennel;
and if you fish for a _Pearch_ with a _Minnow_, then it is best to be
alive, you sticking your hook through his back fin, and letting him swim
up and down about mid-water, or a little lower, and you still keeping
him to about that depth, by a Cork, which ought not to be a very light
one: and the like way you are to fish for the _Pearch_ with a small
_Frog_, your hook being fastened through the skin of his leg, towards
the upper part of it: And lastly, I will give you but this advise, that
you give the _Pearch_ time enough when he bites, for there was scarse
ever any _Angler_ that has given him too much. And now I think best to
rest my selfe, for I have almost spent my spirits with talking so long.

_Viat._ Nay, good Master, one fish more, for you see it rains still,
and you know our Angles are like money put to usury; they may thrive
though we sit still and do nothing, but talk & enjoy one another. Come,
come the other fish, good Master.

_Pisc._ But Scholer, have you nothing to mix with this Discourse, which
now grows both tedious and tiresome? Shall I have nothing from you that
seems to have both a good memorie, and a cheerful Spirit?

_Viat._ Yes, Master, I will speak you a Coppie of Verses that were made
by Doctor _D