. The compleat angler. Fishing. CHAPTER XIV Observations of the Barbel, and Directions how to Fish for him. ISC. The Barbel is so called (says Gesner) by reason of his barb or wattles at his mouth, which are under his nose or chaps. He is one of those leather-mouthed fishes, that I told you of, that does very seldom break his hold if he be once hooked : but he is so strong that he will often break both rod and line, if he proves to be a big one. But the barbel, though he be of a fine shape, and looks big, yet he is not accounted the best fish to eat, neither for his wholesomeness nor his taste
. The compleat angler. Fishing. CHAPTER XIV Observations of the Barbel, and Directions how to Fish for him. ISC. The Barbel is so called (says Gesner) by reason of his barb or wattles at his mouth, which are under his nose or chaps. He is one of those leather-mouthed fishes, that I told you of, that does very seldom break his hold if he be once hooked : but he is so strong that he will often break both rod and line, if he proves to be a big one. But the barbel, though he be of a fine shape, and looks big, yet he is not accounted the best fish to eat, neither for his wholesomeness nor his taste : but the male is reputed much better than the female, whose spawn is very hurtful, as I will presently declare to you. They flock together, like sheep, and are at the worst in April, about which time they spawn, but quickly grow to be in season. He is able to live in the strongest swifts of the water, and in summer they love the shallowest and sharpest streams ; and love to lurk under weeds, and to feed on gravel against a rising ground, and will root and dig in the sands with his nose like a hog, and there nest himself : yet sometimes he retires to deep and swift bridges, or flood- gates, or weirs, where he will nest himself amongst piles, or in hollow 194. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Walton, Izaak, 1593-1683; Cotton, Charles, 1630-1687; Le Gallienne, Richard, 1866-1947 ed. London ; New York : John Lane
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