Chapter XI -The Compleat Angler

In “The Compleat Angler,” Chapter XI continues with Piscator offering insights into the Tench, a fish highly esteemed not for its taste but for its medicinal benefits. He begins by characterizing the Tench as a fish that prefers still waters, such as ponds and pits over the currents of rivers, although there is a mention of a river in Dorsetshire known for its Tench population. The fish is described in detail, noting its large fins, smooth scales, a distinctive red circle around its gold-colored eyes, and the small barbs hanging from the corners of its mouth.

Piscator shares an intriguing aspect of the Tench; within its head lie two small stones that are highly valued by foreign physicians for their curative properties, despite the fish itself not being considered particularly wholesome food. He recounts a remarkable incident witnessed by Rondeletius in Rome, where a Tench was applied to the feet of a gravely ill man, leading to a significant improvement in his condition. This method, employed by Jews, suggests a deep, unwritten knowledge passed through generations since the era of Solomon. This knowledge encompasses an array of secrets and cures, including the peculiar use of live lice to treat the yellow jaundice, which Piscator suggests may have been revealed through divine means or ancient wisdom rather than scholarly inquiry.

Piscator emphasizes the diverse utility of the Tench, both in living form and post-mortem, for human benefit. However, he quickly distances himself from any further discussion on the medicinal applications of fish, citing his modest expertise in angling and a desire to avoid the overly bold assertions commonplace among those who dabble without due expertise in medicine or theology. This narrative subtly criticizes the hubris of those who venture into specialized fields of knowledge without the requisite understanding, reflecting a broader commentary on the limits of human pride and the value of humility and tradition.