THE COMPLETE ANGLER 159 



circumstances concerning him ; but yet I shall remember 

 you of what I told you before, that he is a very subtle 

 fish, and hard to be caught. 



And my first direction is, that if you will fish for a 

 carp, you must put on a very large measure of patience ; 

 especially to fish for a river-carp ; I have known a 

 very good fisher angle diligently four or six hours in a 

 day, for three or four days together, for a river-carp, 

 and not have a bite. And you are to note, that in 

 some ponds it is as hard to catch a carp as in a river ; 



CARP 



that is to say, where they have store of feed, and the 

 water is of a clayish colour : but you are to remember 

 I have told you there is no rule without an exception ; 

 and therefore being possessed with that hope and patience 

 which I wish to all fishers, especially to the carp-angler, 

 I shall tell you with what bait to fish for him. But first, 

 you are to know, that it must be either early or late ; 

 and let me tell you, that in hot weather, for he will 

 seldom bite in cold, you cannot be too early or too late 

 at it. And some have been so curious as to say, the 

 tenth of April is a fatal day for carps. 



The carp bites either at worms or at paste ; and of 

 worms I think the bluish marsh or meadow-worm is 



