Systema agriculturæ, the mystery of husbandry discovered treating of the several new and most advantagious ways of tilling, planting, sowing, manuring, ordering, improving of all sorts of gardens, orchards, meadows, pastures, corn-lands, woods & coppices, as also of fruits, corn, grain, pulse, new-hays, cattle, fowl, beasts, bees, silk-worms, &c. : with an account of the several instruments and engines used in this profession : to which is added Kalendarium rusticum, or, The husbandmans monthly directions, also the prognosticks of dearth, scarcity, plenty, sickness, heat, cold, frost, snow, winds, rain, hail, thunder, &c. and Dictionarium rusticum, or, The interpretation of rustick terms, the whole work being of great use and advantage to all that delight in that most noble practice.

SECT. I. Of taking Fish by Nets, Pots, or Engines.

The usual way of Fishing by Nets is of the greatest advan∣tage, and so of greatest destruction to those watry Animals, which if not moderately used, destroys whole Rivers of them; to prevent which, there are several good Laws made, though sel∣dom executed. And could all men that are concerned in this Exercise agree to neglect the use of Nets but for two or three years, the Fish would encrease innumerably, that in many years after they could not be destroyed; which being very unlikely, yet it were feasible to compel all Fishermen that they take no young Fish, nor Fish in their Spawning Moneths: for if they were permitted to Spawn but once before they are taken, they would sufficiently stock the Rivers where they are; for the de∣struction of Fry and Spawns is the ruine of the Fishing in most Rivers.

The most useful Nets in great Waters are the Trammel and Sieve; which, according to their Mesh, may be used for most sorts of Fish: The making and manner of using them are known to most Fishermen.

The most pleasant and recreative way is with the Casting-net, spreading like a Cloak, and verged round with Plummets, that over whatsoever Fish it is thrown, it brings them to your hand. This Net is either thrown off from the Banks side, or from a Boat, according as the water will give you leave: If the re∣markable places that you intend a fling at were baited before-hand, your Sport would be the better.

In smaller Rivers, where there are Roots or Stems of Trees, under which the Fish usually seek for shelter in the day-time, the Net vulgarly called the Shore-net, which is a Net broad and o∣pen before, about five foot, and ending backwards in a long and narrow Cod. The forepart of this Net is fixed to a semicircular Rod, and to the string that strains the two Extreams of that Rod, in form of a Bow-string: In the use of it, you pitch the straight side of the Net downwards against the place or shelter where you suppose the Fish are; which Net you hold strongly a∣gainst the place, by the help of a Stail or handle that is fixed a∣thwart the Bow, and extends down to the String. Whilest you thus hold the Net, your Companion with a Pole stirs in the place of refuge; and what Fish are there will suddenly bolt out into your Net. By this means, not only Fish in small Rivers, as Trouts, Humbers, &c. are caught, but Salmon also in great Ri∣vers, where the water is thickned by the Tide; the Fisherman standing against the water with the Cod of the Net between his legs, and as soon as he perceiveth the Fish bolt into the Net, he forthwith lifts it up.

In several great Rivers where shelter is scarce, many have set large Pots made of Osier, with bars in them, that when the Fish are in them, driven either by the Current, or seeking therein for shelter, they could not get out again. They are also laid in swift Currents, and at Mill-tails, and suchlike places, for the taking of Eels, which in dark nights, warm weather, and thick waters, run down with the stream in great plenty.

In great Rivers, the greatest destruction of Salmon, and also advantage, is made by Wears erected in the Main Stream, that when those Fish whose nature is to swim against the stream, and to spring or leap over any natural obstacle that shall oppose them, by their endeavour to raise themselves over these Wears, try to leap over, they fall short, and are taken in Grates set at the foot of them for that purpose. Many other Engines there are to intercept their passage up against the waters, none of which are very injurious to the encrease of that Fish, were they discon∣tinued in the Autumnal season; at which time those Fish stem the swiftest Currents, that they may lay their Spawn in the small shallow streams, which Nature hath instructed them to do, it be∣ing the sweetest meat other Fish can feed, and so consequentially the best bait for a nimble and greedy Angler: At which season those that do escape these destructive Wears, are too often met with by the ignorant Rustick, who with his Spear commonly assaults them int he Shallows; and after these Fish have Spawn∣ed,

and their Spawn converted into the young brood, the Spring following they naturally descend with the stream, and by gree∣dy Millers and others are commonly the greatest part of them intercepted in their Pots; yea, sometimes in so great quantities, that for want of a present Market they have given them to their Swine. All which are the principal causes of the great scarcity of that Fish in these parts of England.

There is a sort of Engine, by some termed a Hawk, made al∣most like unto a Fish-pot, being a square frame of Timber fit∣ted to the place you intend to set it in, and wrought with wire to a point almost, so that what Fish soever go through the same, cannot go back again. These placed the one where the River enters into your Land, the other where it runs out, with the Points of each towards you, any Fish whatsoever that moves with or against the water, when they are once within the Hawks, cannot get back again. In case the River be broad, you may place two or three of these at an end in it; a frame of Timber being set in the water that it break not out on either side, nor under, lest your Fish escape. These Hawks ought to be made moveable, to take off or on, as you see occasion.

But in case you are in danger of Land-floods, or that you have not the command of the Land on both sides, or of suchlike im∣pediment; then may you cut a large Channel out of the sides of the River, and as deep as the bottom of the River, with some part of the Current through it, and place these Hawks at each end of it, the better to intice the Fish into it. At some conveni∣ent distance from the River, and in the Piscary, on the top of a stake pitch'd in the midst of the water, and a little above the wa∣ter, fix a Laton-case, in form of a Cylinder, about three or four inches Diameter, and twelve inches long, in which set a Candle burning in dark nights, the light whereof shines only upwards and downwards: it must be open at the top, because it preserves it burning: the downward light intices the Fish into your Pisca∣ry; so that no Fish passes up nor down the River, but will seek their way through the Hawk into the light. By this very means I have known a Piscary well stored in a few nights.

There is a Net made round, and at each end a Hawk, that be∣ing set in the water and depressed by Plummets or Stones, and having in the in-side thereof shining shells, or red cloth, or such∣like inticements, the Fish will seek their way in, but cannot get out.

As for Fishing in the night by fire, and stupifying of Fish with unwholesome Baits, or with Lime, or suchlike, being ways used by evil-minded persons, that rather destroy the properties of other men, than lawfully use them for their necessary subsistence; I shall decline any advice or directions in that kinde, and prose∣cute that most lawful, just, and honest way of Angling, so much celebrated by the Ingenious of every degree.

Notes

• To Fish with Nets.
• With the Tram∣mel or Sieve.
• With the Cast∣ing-Net.
• With the Shore-Net, or Poke-Net.
• With Fish-pots.
• With Wears.
• With Hawks.
• The way of ma∣king a Piscary.
• A Hawk-Net.