The Fourth Day 137 



course of Fishes : but It might rather perplex than 

 satisfy you ; and therefore 1 shall rather choose to 

 direct you how to catch, than spend more time in dis- 

 coursing either of the nature or the breeding of this 

 Carp, or of any more circumstances concerning him. 

 But yet I shall remember you of what I told you be- 

 fore, that he is a very subtil fish, and hard to be caught 



And my first direction is, that if you will fish for 

 a Carp, you must put on a very large measure of 

 patience, especially to fish for a river Carp: I have 

 known a very good fisher angle diligently four or 

 six hours in a day, for three or four days together, for 

 a river Carp, and not have a bite. And you are to 

 note, that, in some ponds, it is as hard to catch a 

 Carp as in a river ; that is to say, where they have 

 store of feed, and the water is of a clayish colour. 

 But you are to remember that I have told you there 

 is no rule without an exception ; and therefore being 

 possest with that hope and patience which I wish to 

 all fishers, especially to the Carp-angler, I shall tell 

 you with what bait to fish for him. But first you 

 are to know, that it must be either early, or late ; 

 and let me tell you, that in hot weather, for he will 

 seldom bite in cold, you cannot be too early, or too 

 late at it. And some have been so curious as to 

 say, the tenth of April is a fatal day for Carps. 



The Carp bites either at worms, or at paste : and 

 of worms I think the bluish marsh or meadow worm 

 is best; but possibly another worm, not too big, 

 may do as well, and so may a green gentle : and 

 as for pastes, there are almost as many sorts as 

 there are medicines for the toothache ; but doubt- 

 less sweet pastes are best ; I mean, pastes made with 

 honey or with sugar: which, that you may the 

 better beguile this crafty fish, should be thrown into 

 the pond or place in which you fish for him, some 

 hours, or longer, before you undertake your trial of 



