200 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



boldly as at any bait, and specially, if, tbe night or 

 two before you fish for him, you shall bait the places 

 where you intend to fish for him, with big worms 

 cut into pieces : and note, that none did ever over- 

 bait the place, nor fish too early or too late for a 

 Barbel. And the Barbel will bite also at gentles, 

 which not being too much scoured, but green, are 

 a choice bait for him ; and so is cheese, which is 

 not to be too hard, but kept a day or two in a wet 

 linen cloth to make it tough : with this you may also 

 bait the water a day or two before you fish for the 

 Barbel, and be much the likelier to catch store : 

 and if the cheese were laid in clarified honey a short 

 time before, as namely, an hour or two, you were 

 still the likelier to catch fish. Some have directed 

 to cut the cheese into thin pieces, and toast it, and 

 then tie it on the hook with fine silk : and some 

 advise to fish for the Barbel with sheep's tallow and 

 soft cheese beaten or worked into a paste, and 

 that it is choicely good in August, and I believe it : 

 but doubtless the Lob-worm well scoured, and the 

 gentle not too much scoured, and cheese ordei-ed 

 as I have directed, are baits enough ; and I think 

 will serve in any month ; though I shall commend 

 any Angler that tries conclusions, and is industrious 

 to improve the art. And now, my honest Scholar, 

 the long shower and my tedious discourse are both 

 ended together : and I shall give you but this ob- 

 servation, that when you fish for a Barbel, your rod 

 and line be both long, and of good strength ; for, as 

 I told you, you will find him a heavy and a dogged 



