222 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. [part i. 



But if you desire to keep gentles to fish with all the 

 year, then get a dead cat or a kite, and let it be 

 fly-blown ; and when the gentles begin to be alive 

 and to stir, then bury it and them in soft, moist 

 earth, but as free from frost as you can, and tbese 

 you may dig up at any time when you intend to use 

 them : these will last till March, and about that 

 time turn to be flies. 



But if you be nice to foul your fingers, which 

 good Anglers seldom are, then take this bait : get 

 a handful of well made malt, and put it into a dish 

 of water, and then wash and rub it betwixt your 

 hands till you make it clean, and as free from 

 husks as you can ; then put that water from it, and 

 put a small quantity of fresh water to it, and set it 

 in something that is fit for that purpose over the 

 fire, where it is not to boil apace, but leisurely and 

 very softly, until it become somewhat soft, which 

 you may try by feeling it betwixt your finger and 

 thumb ; and when it is soft, then put your water 

 from it : and then take a sharp knife, and turning 

 the sprout- end of the corn upward, with the point 

 of your knife take the back part of the husk off 

 from it, and yet leaving a kind of inward husk on 

 the corn, or else it is marred ; and then cut off that 

 sprouted end, I mean a little of it, that the white 

 may appear, and so pull off the husk on the cloven 

 side, as I directed you ; and then cutting off a very 

 little of the other end, that so your hook may en- 

 ter ; and, if your hook be small and good, you will 



