io6 The Complete Angler 



headed Chub : and this is not much amiss, for this 

 1 will pleasure some poor body, as we go to our lodg- 

 ing to meet our brother Peter and honest Coridon. 

 Come, now bait your hook again, and lay it into the 

 water, for it rains again ; and we will even retire to 

 the Sycamore-tree, and there I will give you more 

 directions concerning fishing, for I would fain make 

 you an artist. 



VENATOR. Yes, good master, I pray let it be so. 



PlSCATOR. Well, scholar, now that we are sate 

 down and are at ease, I shall tell you a little more of 

 Trout-fishing, before I speak of the Salmon, which I 

 purpose shall be next, and then of the Pike or Luce. 



You are to know, there is night as well as day 

 fishing for a Trout ; and that, in the night, the best 

 Trouts come out of their holes. And the manner 

 of taking them is on the top of the water with a 

 great lob or garden- worm, or rather two, which you 

 are to fish with in a stream where the waters run 

 somewhat quietly, for in a stream the bait will 

 not be so well discerned. I say, in a quiet or 

 dead place, near to some swift, there draw your bait 

 over the top of the water, to and fro, and if there be 

 a good Trout in the hole, he will take it, especially 

 if the night be dark, for then he is bold, and lies 

 near the top of the water, watching the motion of 

 any frog or water-rat, or mouse, that swims betwixt 

 him and the sky ; these he hunts after, if he sees 

 the water but wrinkle or move in one of these dead 

 holes, where these great old Trouts usually lie, near 

 to their holds ; for you are to note, that the great old 

 Trout is both subtle and fearful, and lies close all 

 day, and does not usually stir out of his hold, but 

 lies in it as close in the day as the timorous hare 

 does in her form ; for the chief feeding of either is 

 seldom in the day, but usually in the night, and 

 then the great Trout feeds very boldly. 



