98 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



And here let me tell you, what many old anglers know 

 right well, that at some times, and in some waters, a 

 minnow is not to be got ; and therefore let me tell you, I 

 have, which I will shew to you, an artificial minnow,* 

 that will catch a trout as well as an artificial fly, and it was 

 made by a handsome woman that had a fine hand, and a 

 live minnow lying by her : the mould or body of the 

 minnow was cloth, and wrought upon or over it thus with 

 a needle : the back of it with very sad French green silk, 

 and paler green silk towards the belly, shadowed as per- 

 fectly as you can imagine, just as you see a minnow ; 

 the belly was wrought also with a needle, and it was a 

 part of it white silk, and another part of it with silver 

 thread ; the tail and fins were of a quill, which was shaven 

 thin ; the eyes were of two little black beads, and the head 

 was so shadowed, and all of it so curiously wrought, and 

 so exactly dissembled, that it would beguile any sharp- 

 sighted trout in a swift stream. And this minnow I will 

 now shew you ; look, here it is, and, if you like it, lend it 

 you, to have two or three made by it ; for they be easily 

 carried about an angler, and be of excellent use ; for 

 note, that a large trout will come as fiercely at a minnow 

 as the highest mettled hawk doth seize on a partridge, 

 or a greyhound on a hare. I have been told that a 

 hundred and sixty minnows have been found in a trout's 

 belly : either the trout had devoured so many, or the 

 miller that gave it a friend of mine had forced them down 

 his throat after he had taken him. 



Now for flies.t which is the third bait wherewith trouts 

 are usually taken. You are to know that there are so 



* Walton's method of making an artificial minnow is curious. 

 How surprised he would be to see the artificial minnows, and other 

 artificial fish baits of these days I No amateur need make them now, 

 as they are to be had cheaply at all the tackle shops, well made, and 

 in infinite variety. E. 



f The student must not pay any attention to what Walton says 

 about artificial flies. He was not a fly-fisher ; but he was a good 

 bottom-fisher, and dibbcd or daped well. E. 



