96 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



pered floods that are usually in that season, would 

 suffer him to take no rest, but carry him headlong 

 to mills and wears to his confusion. And of these 

 Minnows, first you are to know, that the biggest 

 size is not the best ; and next, that the middle size 

 and the whitest are the best : and then you are to 

 know, that your Minnow must be so put on your 

 hook, that it must turn round when 'tis drawn 

 against the stream, and that it may turn nimbly, 

 vou must put it on a big-sized hook as I shall now 

 direct you, which is thus. Put your hook in at his 

 mouth and out at his gill ; then, having drawn your 

 hook two or three inches beyond or through his 

 gill, put it again into his mouth, and the point and 

 beard out at his tail ; and then tie the hook and his 

 tail about very neatly with a white thread, which 

 will make it the apter to turn quick in the water : 

 that done, pull back that part of your line which 

 was slack when you did put your hook into the 

 Minnow the second time ; I say pull that part of 

 your line back so that it shall fasten the head, so 

 that the body of the Minnow shall be almost straight 

 on your hook ; this done, try how it will turn by 

 drawing it cross the water or against a stream ; and 

 if it do not turn nimbly, then turn the tail a little 

 to the right or left hand, and try again, till it turn 

 quick; for if not, you are in danger to catch no- 

 thing ; for know, that it is impossible that it should 

 turn too quick : And you are yet to know, that in 

 case you want a Minnow, then a small Loach or a 



