cut small taking care they should sink about the place 

 'Where your hook trips. 



Give a little time before you strike, especially if your 

 bait is rather large ; and remove the hooked fishes as fast 

 as you can out ,of the water, else the whole shoal will 

 take the alarm, and be with difficulty brought back. 



You will find, that the minnow-net is an admirable 

 instrument for taking gudgeons, when the water is shal- 

 low. You must first rake the spot wellj then lower 

 your net gently to the bottom, and, over the place where 

 it lies, throw in grains, meal, &c. In this way I hav 

 often token more than a peck of gudgeons in a few pulls. 



Of the Flounder. 



This is properly a sea-fish, and is rarely found but in 

 waters communicating with the ocean ; yet flounders 

 not only will live and propagate in other streams, but 

 even in ponds, growing to a greater size than when in 

 the tide's way. 



This fish delights in a soft, flat, or gently declining 

 bottom, where they will take various baits, but princi- 

 pally well-scoured worms, and greaves. You will have 

 but little sport unless the place be previously baited, for 

 they are remarkably indolent j though when once as- 

 sembled, no fish can keep the angler bettef employed. 



Use strong gut with a hook No. 7, or 8, rather stiff in 

 its make; put four or five shots on your line, and let 

 your bait go close to the bottom, or lay upon it ; give a 

 little time when you have a bite, for the flounder is a great 

 glutton, and will, if possible, gorge your bait, provided 

 he be not disturbed, 



You 



