Of The Pike

The pike is a fresh water fish, and is seldom or never met with in the sea. These fish taken in clear running water are better and more wholesome than those that are bred in muddy ponds or lakes. Those should be chosen that are fresh, fat, large, and well fed; and the flesh will be firm, white, and flaky. It is moderately nourishing, and the nourishment is pretty good. It is best in winter. It is a voracious cruel hardy fish, will feed on its own kind, and will live a long while. The hard rows will often vomit and purge violently.

Of The Carp, Bream, Dace, And Roach

The carp is a fresh water fish, and is to be met with in rivers, ponds, and lakes; but the river carp is best. They have no tongues, and are naturally soft, clammy, and full of phlegmatic moi-sture when they are young. Those that are large and of a yellow colour are best : likewise the male carp has firmer flesh than the female. They spawn five or fix time a year. They are most in season in March and September. They are very wholesome eating, for those that are fondest of them never find any bad effects from their use; though some fay they are bad in the colic.

The bream is a fish not very unlike a carp, only it has a small head, is more flat, less, and not so highly esteemed : it is bred in the same waters, feeds in the same manner, and produces the same effects. It is in season in March and April. It spawns in May.

The dace is still less than the bream, and eats, more firm than the carp. The roach is not very-different from the dace, unless in shape : when they are spotted, they are bad. At the bed it is not esteemed; but if drest immediately after they are caught, they make no despicable dish.

Of The Perch

There are two sorts of perches, the sea perch, and the fresh water perch; the former is less than the latter. It is sound near rocks, and lives upon little fifties. The flesh is dry, tough, and hard of digestion, for which reason it is seldom eaten. The fresh water perch, when in good order, is delicate food, for it is easy of digestion, eats firm, is very nourishing, and breeds good juices. This like all other fish, when bred in musddy ponds is not so good. It spawns in March and April, and then it is out of season for some time.

Of The Barbel

The barbel is a river fish, and generally weighs two or three pounds. However, there are some of seven or eight. He cannot well bear cold weather, and therefore he is most in season in the summer time. The flesh is white, soft, and full of moisture, which becomes more firm when old; for which reason he has a better flavour at that time, and yields good nourishment. The spawn should be carefully taken out before dressing, for it is a violent purge and vomit.

Of Eels

Eels are of several kinds, but they all eat very well. The silver eel is accounted the best; the flesh flesh is tender, soft, and nourishing, being full of unctuous and balsamic parts : but as they abound at the same time with thick gross clammy juices, they are not very easy of digestion; for which reason they are best when a little salted. They may be eaten either boiled, broiled, or roasted; but the two latter ways are best, because by dressing them in those manners they are deprived of a great deal of their viscous phlegm. They will likewise bear seasoning, and a glass of wine to help dige stion. They may be eaten at all times of the year, but are thought to be not very good for those that are troubled with the gout or gravel.