306 NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 



consult him a delicious entertainment. But the 

 trout to entertain himself, as eagerly sucks in 

 a well-scour'd red-worm, as the wide-mouth'd 

 Humber swallows up a full spring-tide. For 

 that end, grudg him not what he loves, and give 

 him time to digest it. Your business is only to 

 stand sentinel, and to keep a vigilant eye and a 

 diligent hand over him ; for patience is not only 

 an exercise but an excellency in anglers, provi- 

 ded they fall not asleep at their exercise ; espe- 

 cially when angling or troling with the ground- 

 bait, which upon probate proves most profitable 

 after gluts of rain and discoloured waters. Nor 

 is this ground-bait otherwise than a worm, va- 

 riously discours'd by me at several limes, and 

 in sundry places. For that end (to avoid repe- 

 titions) where the worm fails of success, make 

 trial of the minew, in sharps or scours, by drag- 

 ging at the bottom, or in mid- water ; which if 

 dextrously performed (with the swivel) by the 

 hand of an artist, he shall seldom or rarely fail 

 of success. 



But for the fly-fishing, if that be the artist's 

 intention, let me soberly advise him to solicite 

 moderate winds, rather than intemperate and 

 violent gusts. Rally my reasons, and sum them 

 up ; you will find them more copious in my 

 former conference, where at large I discourse 

 and decipher both the shape, colour, and the 



