chap, xviii.] THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 233 



vel ; at -which time he will suffer an Angler to put a 

 hook baited with a small worm, very near unto his 

 very mouth : and he never refuses to bite, nor indeed 

 to he caught with the worst of Anglers. Matthiolus 

 commends him much more for his taste and nou- 

 rishment, than for his shape or beauty. 



There is also a little fish called a Sticklebag : a 

 fish without scales, but hath his body fenced with 

 several prickles. I know not where he dwells in 

 winter, nor what he is good for in summer, but 

 only to make sport for boys and women-anglers, 

 and to feed other fish that be fish of prey, as Trouts 

 in particular, who will bite at him as at a Penk ; and 

 better, if your hook be rightly baited with him : 

 for he may be so baited as, his tail turning like the 

 sail of a windmill, will make him turn more quick 

 than any Penk or Minnow can. For note, that the 

 nimble turning of that, or the Minnow, is the per- 

 fection of Minnow fishing. To which end, if you 

 put your hook into his mouth, and out at his tail ; 

 and then, having first tied him with white thread a 

 little above his tail, and placed him after such a 

 manner on your hook as he is like to turn, then 

 sew up his mouth to your line, and he is like to 

 turn quick, and tempt any Trout : but if he does not 

 turn quick, then turn his tail a little more or less 

 towards the inner part, or towards the side of the 

 hook ; or put the Minnow or Sticklebag a little more 

 crooked or more straight on your hook, until it will turn 

 both true and fast : and then doubt not but to tempt 

 any great Trout that lies in a swift stream. And the 



