166 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



tackling, repair to the river, where you have seen them 

 swim in skulls or shoals, in the summer time, in a hot 

 afternoon, about three or four of the clock, and watch their 

 going forth of their deep holes and returning, which you 

 may well discern, for they return about four of the clock, 

 most of them seeking food at the bottom, yet one or two 

 will lie on the top of the water, rolling and tumbling 

 themselves whilst the rest are under him at the bottom, 

 and so you shall perceive him to keep sentinel ; then 

 mark where he plays most, and stays longest, which 

 commonly is in the broadest and deepest place of the river, 

 and there, or near thereabouts, at a clear bottom and a 

 convenient landing-place, take one of your angles ready 

 fitted as aforesaid, and sound the bottom, which should be 

 about eight or ten feet deep, two yards from the bank is 

 the best. Then consider with yourself whether that water 

 will rise or fall by the next morning, by reason of any 

 water-mills near, and according to your discretion take 

 the depth of the place, where you mean after to cast your 

 ground-bait, and to fish, to Half an inch, that the lead 

 lying on or near the ground-bait, the top of the float may 

 only appear upright half an inch above the water. 



Thus you having found and fitted for the place and 

 depth thereof, then go home and prepare your ground- 

 bait, which is, next to the fruit of your labours, to be 

 regarded. 



THE GROUND-BAIT 



You shall take a peck, or a peck and a half, according 

 to the greatness of the stream and deepness of the water 

 where you mean to angle, of sweet gross-ground barley- 

 malt, and boil it in a kettle ; one or two warms is enough, 

 then strain it through a bag into a tub, the liquor whereof 

 hath often done my horse much good, and when the bag 

 and malt is near cold, take it down to the water-side about 

 eight or nine of the clock in the evening, and not before ; 



