THE COMPLETE ANGLER 167 



cast in two parts of your ground-bait, squeezed hard 

 between both your hands, it will sink presently to the 

 bottom, and be sure it may rest in the very place where 

 you mean to angle ; if the stream run hard or move a little, 

 cast your malt in handfuls a little the higher, upwards 

 the stream. You may, between your hands, close the 

 malt so fast in handfuls, that the water will hardly part 

 it with the fall. 



Your ground thus baited and tackling fitted, leave your 

 bag with the rest of your tackling and ground-bait near 

 the sporting-place all night, and in the morning about 

 three or four of the clock, visit the water-side, but not 

 too near, for they have a cunning watchman, and are 

 watchful themselves too. 



Then gently take one of your three rods, and bait your 

 hook ; casting it over your ground-bait, and gently and 

 secretly draw it to you till the lead rests about the middle 

 of the ground-bait. 



Then take a second rod, and cast in about a yard above, 

 and your third a yard below the first rod ; and stay the 

 rods in the ground : but go yourself so far from the water- 

 side, that you perceive nothing but the top of the floats, 

 which you must watch most diligently. Then when you 

 have a bite, you shall perceive the top of your float to sink 

 suddenly into the water : yet, nevertheless, be not too 

 hasty to run to your rods, until you see that the line goes 

 clear away, then creep to the water-side, and give as much 

 line as you possibly can : if it be a good carp or bream, 

 they will go to the farther side of the river : then strike 

 gently, and hold your rod at a bent, a little while ; but 

 if you both pull together, you are sure to lose your game, 

 for either your line, or hook, or hold will break : and 

 after you have overcome them, they will make noble 

 sport, and are very shy to be landed. The carp is far 

 stronger and more mettlesome than the bream. 



Much more is to be observed in this kind of fish and 



