Chap. 17. Of the M IN N O W, i£c, 237 



Sport for young Anglers, or for Boys and 

 Women that love that Recreation. 



The Minnow appears firft in March, con- 

 tinues till Michaelmas , and then betakes him- 

 felf to the Mud, Weeds, or Wood in Ri- 

 vers •, to fecure himfelf from Floods, devour- 

 ing Trouts, and other Fiihes of Prey. 



He leail frequents deep, ftill Places, where 

 Trouts or great Fifh ply *, neither ftirs in the 

 Night, nor in dark windy Weather, for fear 

 of becoming a Prey to his Enemies, who at 

 fuch Times principally bite and range about 

 for Food. His rnoft ufual Time is from an 

 Hour after Sun-rifing, if the Day prove fair, 

 till an Hour before Sun-fet. His Baits are 

 chiefly fmall Red-zmrms^ Gilt- tail. Brandlings 

 Cod-hait, and the like. He is caught either 

 at Mid-water, or near, or clofe to the Bottom, 

 Ufe a Float in angling for him. 



Tht Loach is a pleaflmt Fifh, light, deli- 

 cate in Tafte, wholefome, and of excellent Nu- 

 triment •, breeding and feeding in clear fwifc 

 Brooks or Rills, living in the fharpeft Streams, 

 and on the Gravel, and often under Stones. 

 He fomething refemblesan Eel in Shape, and 

 the Females are in the Summer often full 

 of Spawn. They are always caught on the 

 Bottom, the Bait touching the Ground, and 

 their bed Baits are the fmall Red-worm^ Gilt^ 

 tail, or Meadow- worm. 



The Loach grows not to above a Finger's 

 Length, and no thicker than is fuitable to that 

 Length. He has a Beard or Wattels like a 



Bar- 



