chap, x.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 173 



to fish, to half an inch ; that the lead lying on, or 

 near the ground-bait, the top of the float may only 

 appear upright half an inch above the water. 



Thus you having found and fitted for the place 

 and depth thereof, then go home and prepare your 

 ground-bait ; which is, next to the fruit of your 

 labours, to be regarded. 



The Ground- Bait. 



You shall take a peck, or a peck and a half, ac- 

 cording to the greatness of the stream, and deepness 

 of the water, where you mean to angle, of sweet 

 gross-ground barlev-malt, and boil it in a kettle ; 

 one or two warms is enough : then strain it through 

 a bag into a tub, the liquor whereof hath often done 

 my horse much good ; and when the bag and malt 

 is near cold, take it down to the water- side about 

 eight or nine of the clock in the evening, and not 

 before : cast in two parts of your ground-bait, 

 squeezed hard between both your hands, it will sink 

 presently to the bottom, and be sure it may rest in 

 the very place where you mean to angle : if the 

 stream run hard, or move a little, cast your malt in 

 handfuls a little the higher, upwards the stream. 

 You may, between your hands, close the malt so fast 

 in handfuls, that the water will hardly part it with 

 the fall. 



Your ground thus baited, and tackling fitted, 

 leave your bag with the rest of your tackling and 

 ground-bait near the sporting-place all night ; and 



