13 best's art of angling 



I shall treat oi float fishing under the descrip- 

 tion of each fish. 



As for your fishing hooks^ they ought to be 

 made of the best tempered steel wire, longish 

 in the shank, and somewhat thick in the circum- 

 ference, the point even, and straight ; let tlie bend- 

 ing be in the shank. For setting the hook, or 

 more scientifically speaking, arming itj use 

 strong but small silk, lightly waxed with shoe- 

 maker's wax ; and lay the hair on the inside of 

 the hook, for if it be on the outside, the silk 

 will fret and cut it asunder. There are several 

 sizes of hooks, large ones and small ones, made 

 according to the fishes they are designed to take, 

 which, when [ come to treat of the different 

 fish, the number of the hook proper for each 

 will be fully expressed. 



Ford and ICirby's hooks are excellent ones,, 

 but the best 1 ever had were from Red-bridge 

 in Hampshire.^ 



Floats, for angling are of divers kinds: some 

 made of Muscovy duck c\\i\\h, which are the best 

 for slow waters, but for strong streams, sound 

 cork, without flaws or holes, bored through with 

 an hot iron, into w^iich is put a quill of lit pro- 

 portion, is preferable ; pare the cork to ap^^ra- 

 midical form, grind it smooth with a pumice 

 stone, then colour it according to your fancy. 

 Floats, whether quill or cork, must be poised 

 with shot, when on the line, as to make them 

 cock; that is to stand perpendicular in the wa- 

 ter, that the least nibble or bite may be appa- 

 rent. 



When a float is split or bruised, there is no 

 remedy for the mischance, but getting a new 

 on-e, but( you may save the plug, and it will serve 



* To maHe boclts, vide the arcana at the end of tiie first part. 



