84 The Complete Angler 



them ready and fit for use three or four days, or 

 longer ; and that, of salt, bay-salt is the best. 



And here let me tell you, what many old anglers 

 know right well, that at some times, and in some 

 waters, a minnow is not to be got; and therefore, 

 let me tell you, I have, which I will shew to you, an 

 artificial minnow, that will catch a Trout as well as 

 an artificial fly: and it was made by a handsome 

 woman that had a fine hand, and a live minnow 

 lying by her : the mould or body of the minnow was 

 cloth, and wrought upon, or over it, thus, with a 

 needle ; the back of it with very sad French green 

 silk, and paler green silk towards the belly, shadowed 

 as perfectly as you can imagine, just as you see a 

 minnow : the belly was wrought also with a needle, 

 and it was, a part of it, white silk ; and another part 

 of it with silver thread : the tail and fins were of a 

 quill, which was shaven thin : the eyes were of two 

 little black beads : and the head was so shadowed, 

 and all of it so curiously wrought, and so exactly 

 dissembled, that it would beguile any sharp-sighted 

 Trout in a swift stream. And this minnow I will 

 now shew you ; look, here it is, and, if you like it, 

 lend it you, to have two or three made by it ; for 

 they be easily carried about an angler, and be of 

 excellent use : for note, that a large Trout will come 

 as fiercely at a minnow as the highest-mettled hawk 

 doth seize on a partridge, or a greyhound on a hare. 

 I have been told that one hundred and sixty minnows 

 have been found in a Trout's belly : either the Trout 

 had devoured so many, or the miller that gave it a 

 friend of mine had forced them down his throat after 

 he had taken him. 



Now forJFHes ; which is the third bait wherewith 

 Trouts are usually taken. You are to know, that 

 there are so many sorts of flies as there be of fruits : 

 I will name you but some of them ; as the dun-fly, 



