im：　Gesner　says　much　farther：　and　that　his　stones　are　good　against　the　falling　sickness；　and　that　there　is　an　herb；　Benione；　which；　being　hung　in　a　linen　cloth　near　a　fish…pond；　or　any　haunt　that　he　uses；　makes　him　to　avoid　the　place；　which　proves　he　smells　both　by　water　and　land。　And；　I　can　tell　you；　there　is　brave　hunting　this　water…dog　in　Cornwall；　where　there　have　been　so　many；　that　our　learned　Camden　says　there　is　a　river　called　Ottersey；　which　was　so　named　by　reason　of　the　abundance　of　Otters　that　bred　and　fed　in　it。
  And　thus　much　for　my　knowledge　of　the　Otter；　which　you　may　now　see　above　water　at　vent；　and　the　dogs　close　with　him；　I　now　see　he　will　not　last　long。　Follow；　therefore；　my　masters；　follow；　for　Sweetlips　was　like　to　have　him　at　this　last　vent。
  Venator。　Oh　me！　all　the　horse　are　got　over　the　river；　what　shall　we　do　now？　shall　we　follow　them　over　the　water　？
  Huntsman。　No；　Sir；　no；　be　not　so　eager；　stay　a　little；　and　follow　me；　for　both　they　and　the　dogs　will　be　suddenly　on　this　side　again；　I　warrant　you；　and　the　Otter　too；　it　may　be。　Now　have　at　him　with　Kilbuck；　for　he　vents　again。
  Venator。　Marry！　so　he　does；　for；　look！　he　vents　in　that　corner。　Now；　now；　Ringwood　has　him：　now；　he　is　gone　again；　and　has　bit　the　poor　dog。　Now　Sweetlips　has　her；　hold　her；　Sweetlips！　now　all　the　dogs　have　her；　some　above　and　some　under　water：　but；　now；　now　she　is　tired；　and　past　losing　Come　bring　her　to　me；　Sweetlips。　Look！　it　is　a　Bitch…otter；　and　she　has　lately　whelp'd。　Let's　go　to　the　place　where　she　was　put　down；　and；　not　far　from　it；　you　will　find　all　her　young　ones；　I　dare　warrant　you；　and　kill　them　all　too。
  Huntsman。　Come；　Gentlemen　！　come；　all！　let's　go　to　the　place　where　we　put　down　the　Otter。　Look　you　！　hereabout　it　was　that　she　kennelled；　look　you　！　here　it　was　indeed；　for　here's　her　young　ones；　no　less　than　five：　come；　let　us　kill　them　all。
  Piscator。　No：　I　pray；　Sir；　save　me　one；　and　I'll　try　if　I　can　make　her　tame；　as　I　know　an　ingenious　gentleman　in　Leicestershire；　Mr。　Nich。　Segrave；　has　done；　who　hath　not　only　made　her　tame；　but　to　catch　fish；　and　do　many　other　things　of　much　pleasure
  Huntsman。　Take　one　with　all　my　heart；　but　let　us　kill　the　rest。　And　now　let's　go　to　an　honest　ale…house；　where　we　may　have　a　cup　of　good　barley　wine；　and　sing　〃　Old　Rose；〃　and　all　of　us　rejoice　together。
  Venator。　Come；　my　friend　Piscator；　let　me　invite　you　along　with　us。　I'll　bear　your　charges　this　night；　and　you　shall　bear　mine　to…morrow；　for　my　intention　is　to　accompany　you　a　day　or　two　in　fishing。
  Piscator。　Sir；　your　request　is　granted；　and　I　shall　be　right　glad　both　to　exchange　such　a　courtesy；　and　also　to　enjoy　your　company。
  The　third　day
  Venator。　Well；　now　let's　go　to　your　sport　of　Angling。
  Piscator。　Let's　be　going；　with　all　my　heart。　God　keep　you　all；　Gentlemen；　and　send　you　meet；　this　day；　with　another　Bitch…otter；　and　kill　her　merrily；　and　all　her　young　ones　too。
  Venator。　NOW；　Piscator；　where　will　you　begin　to　fish　？
  Piscator。　We　are　not　yet　come　to　a　likely　place；　I　must　walk　a　mile　further　yet　before　I　beam。
  Venator。　Well　then；　I　pray；　as　we　walk；　tell　me　freely；　how　do　you　like　your　lodging；　and　mine　host　and　the　company　？　Is　not　mine　host　a　witty　man　？
  Piscator。　Sir；　I　will　tell　you；　presently；　what　I　think　of　your　host：　but；　first；　I　will　tell　you；　I　am　glad　these　Otters　were　killed；　and　I　am　sorry　there　are　no　more　Otter…killers；　for　I　know　that　the　want　of　Otter…killers；　and　the　not　keeping　the　fence…months　for　the　preservation　of　fish；　will；　in　time；　prove　the　destruction　of　all　rivers。　And　those　very　few　that　are　left；　that　make　conscience　of　the　laws　of　the　nation；　and　of　keeping　days　of　abstinence；　will　be　forced　to　eat　flesh；　or　suffer　more　inconveniences　than　are　yet　foreseen。
  Venator。　Why；　Sir；　what　be　those　that　you　call　the　fence…months？
  Piscator。　Sir；　they　be　principally　three；　namely；　March；　April；　and　May：　for　these　be　the　usual　months　that　Salmon　come　out　of　the　sea　to　spawn　in　most　fresh　rivers。　And　their　fry　would；　about　a　certain　time；　return　back　to　the　salt　water；　if　they　were　not　hindered　by　weirs　and　unlawful　gins；　which　the　greedy　fishermen　set；　and　so　destroy　them　by　thousands；　as　they　would；　being　so　taught　by　nature；　change　the　fresh　for　salt　water。　He　that　shall　view　the　wise　Statutes　made　in　the　13th　of　Edward　the　First；　and　the　like　in　Richard　the　Second；　may　see　several　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　Sea…gull；　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　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：
  many　a　one　Owes　to　his　country　his　religion；　And　in　another；　would　as　strongly　grow；　Had　but　his　nurse　or　mother　taught　him　so。
  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　staid　so　long　to　take　our　leave　of　your　huntsmen　this　morning；　that　the　sun　is　got　so　high；　and　shines　so　clear；　that　I　will　not　undertake　the　catching　of　a　Trout　till　evening。　And　though　a　Chub　be；　by　you　and　many　others；　reckoned　the　worst　of　fish；　yet　you　shall　see　I'll　make　it　a　good　fish　by　dressing　it。
  Venator。　Why；　how　will　you　dress　him　？
  Piscator。　I'll　tell　you　by…and…by；　when　I　have　caught　him。　Look　you　here；　Sir；　do　you　see？　but　you　must　stand　very　close；　there　lie　upon　the　top　of　the　water；　in　this　very　hole；　twenty　Chubs。　I'll　catch　only　one　and　that　shall　be　the　biggest　of　them　all：　and　that　I　will　do　so；　I'll　hold　you　twenty　to　one；　and　you　shall　see　it　done。
  Venator。　Ay；　marry！　Sir；　now　you　talk　like　an　artist；　and　I'll　say　you　are　one；　when　I　shall　see　you　perform　what　you　say　you　can　do：　but　I　yet　doubt　it。
  Piscator。　You　shall　not　doubt　it　long；　for　you　shall　see　me　do　it　presently。　Look　！　the　biggest　of　these　Chubs　has　had　some　bruise　upon　his　tail；　by　a　Pike　or　some　other　accident；　and　that　looks　like　a　white　spot。　That　very　Chub　I　mean　to　put　into　your　hands　presently；　sit　you　but　down　in　the　shade；　and　stay　but　a　little　while；　and　I'll　warrant　you；　I'll　bring　him　to　you。
  Venator。　I'll　sit　down；　and　hope　well；　because　you　seem　to　be　so　confident。
  Piscator。　Look　you；　Sir；　there　is　a　trial　of　my　skill；　there　he　is：　that　very　Chub；　that　I　showed　you；　with　the　white　spot　on　his　tail。　And　I'll　be　as　certain　to　make　him　a　good　dish　of　meat　as　I　was　to　catch　him：　I'll　now　lead　you　to　an　honest　ale…house；　where　we　shall　find　a　cleanly　room；　lavender　in　the　windows；　and　twenty　ballads　stuck　about　the　wall。　There　my　hostess；　which　I　may　t