chap. ix.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 165 



ing possessed 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 earlv 

 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 tooth-ache ; 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 skill with the angle-rod : and, doubtless, if 

 it be thrown into the water a day or two before, at 

 several times and in small pellets, you are the like- 

 lier when you fish for the Carp to obtain your de- 

 sired sport. Or in a large pond, to draw them to 

 any certain place, that they may the better and with 

 more hope be fished for, you are to throw into it, 

 in some certain place, either grains, or blood mixed 

 with cow- dung or with bran ; or any garbage, as 

 chicken's guts or the like ; and then some of your 

 small sweet pellets with which you purpose to an- 



