172 THE COMPLETE ANGLER 



but a few, directions how to catch this tench, of which I 

 have given you these observations. 



He will bite a paste made of brown bread and honey, 

 or at a marsh-worm, or a lob-worm ; he inclines very 

 much to any paste with which tar is mixed : and he will 

 bite also at a smaller worm, with his head nipped off, and 

 a cod-worm put on the hook before that worm ; and I 

 doubt not but that he will also in the three hot months, 

 for in the nine colder he stirs not much, bite at a flag- 

 worm, or at a green gentle ; but I can positively say no 

 more of the tench,* he being a fish I have not often angled 

 for; but I wish my honest scholar may, and be ever 

 fortunate when he fishes. 



* The haunts of the tench are nearly the same with those of the 

 carp. They delight more in ponds than in rivers ; and lie under 

 weeds, near sluices, and at pond-heads. They spawn about the 

 beginning of July ; and are best in season from the beginning ol 

 September to the end of May. They will bite all the hot months ; 

 but are taken best in April and May. There are no better baits 

 for this fish than a middle-sized lob-worm, or red-worm, well scoured ; 

 a gentle ; a young wasp grub, boiled ; or a green worm shook from 

 the boughs of trees. Use a strong grass, or gut ; and a goose-quill 

 float without a cork, except in rivers, where the cork is always to 

 be preferred. Fish very near the ground. And if you bait with 

 gentles, throw in a few at the taking every fish, which will draw them 

 to your hook, and keep them together. H. 



