92 



give your bait an alternate rising and falling, as you draw 

 it across the water, by gradually raising arid lowering the 

 point of your rod. 



The bait is never to be very near the surface, generally 

 from one to six feet, or eventually more under it, accord- 

 ing to the depth of the part you rove in. Sometimes, in- 

 deed, you must go close to the bottom ; especially when 

 you find that no fish strike at you in mid- water. Observe, 

 as the bait approaches your own side, to let it be so played, 

 with the utmost delicacy, as to be full insight of such 

 fishes as may be under that bank. 



It should be so managed in roving, that you get the 

 wind at your back, whereby your line will be sent across 

 with little exertion j especially if the wind be anywise 

 strong, such as is most favourable for this practice : for 

 all fishes that will take your baits in this manner, are more 

 eager when the surface is ruffled by a breeze ; which, 

 besides, rffords the advantage of making yourself and 

 your rod less discernible to fh^m. 



Indeed, I do not think that rot; wg succeeds well either 

 In calm weather or in .shallow v/nters if they be clear, 

 the dev ice will, in general, be seen ; and if they be 

 muddy, the fish cannot so well see your bait. A little 

 colour in the water is not amiss, when produced by 

 freshes, or by a flow of the tide j for, then the fishes are 

 usually very eager, and take, not only, worms, &:c. with 

 keenness, but may be seen to snap at every thing which 

 falls into their element. 



It is almost impossible to give a minnoiv that appear- 

 ance of life in still waters, which should impose on such 

 fishes as do not readily seize a dead-lait, such as iron Is 



and 



