THE COMPLETE ANGLER 165 



or July, or at several flies under water, which may be 

 found on flags that grow near to the water-side. I doubt 

 not but that there be many other baits that are good ; 

 but I will turn them all into this most excellent one, 

 either for a carp or bream, in any river or mere : it was 

 given to me by a most honest and excellent angler ; 

 and hoping you will prove both, I will impart it to you. 



1. Let your bait be as big a red-worm as you can find, 

 without a knot ; get a pint or quart of them in an evening 

 in garden walks, or chalky common, after a shower of 

 rain, and put them with clean moss well washed and 

 picked, and the water squeezed out of the moss as dry 

 as you can, into an earthen pot or pipkin set dry, and 

 change the moss fresh every three or four days, for three 

 weeks or a month together ; then your bait will be at 

 the best, for it will be clear and lively. 



2. Having thus prepared your baits, get your tackling 

 ready and fitted for this sport. Take three long angling 

 rods, and as many and more silk, or silk and hair 

 lines, and as many large swan or goose-quill floats. 

 Then take a piece of lead made after this manner, 



and fasten them to the low ends of your lines ; then 

 fasten your link-hook also to the lead, and let there 

 be about a foot or ten inches between the lead and the 

 hook ; but be sure the lead be heavy enough to sink the 

 float or quill a little under the water, and not the quill to 

 bear up the lead, for the lead must lie on the ground. 

 Note, that your link next the hook may be smaller than 

 the rest of your line, if you dare adventure, for fear of 

 taking the pike or perch, who will assuredly visit your 

 hooks, till they be taken out, as I will shew you afterward, 

 before either carp or bream will come near to bite. Note 

 also, that when the worm is well baited, it will crawl up 

 and down as far as the lead will give leave, which much 

 enticeth the fish to bite without suspicion. 



3. Having thus prepared your baits, and fitted your 



