THE COMPLETE ANGLER, I2/ 



Put your hook in at his mouth and out of his gill ; 

 then, having drawn your hook two or three inches 

 beyond or through his gill, put it again into his 

 mouth, and the point and beard out at his tail, and 

 then tie the hook and his tail about very neatly with a 

 white thread, which will make it the apter to turn 

 quick in the water ; that done, pull back that part 

 of your line which was slack when you did put 

 your hook into the minnow the second time, I 

 say, pull that part of your line back so that it shall 

 fasten the head, so that the body of the minnow 

 shall be almost straight on your hook ; this done, 

 try how it will turn, by drawing it across the water 

 or against a stream ; and if it do not turn nimbly, 

 then turn the tail a little to the right or left hand, 

 and try again till it turn quick : for if not, you are 

 in danger to catch nothing ; for know, that it is im- 

 possible that it should turn too quick. And you 

 are yet to know that in case you want a minnow, 

 then a small loach, or a stickle-bag, or any other 

 small fish that will turn quick will serve as well. 

 And you are yet to know that you may salt them, 

 and by that means keep them ready and fit for use 

 three or four days, or longer ; and that, of salt, bay 

 salt is the best. 



And here let me tell you what many old an- 

 glers know right well, that at some times and in 

 some waters a minnow is not to be got; and there- 

 fore let me tell you I have, which I will show to 

 you, an artificial minnow, that will catch a trout as 

 well as an artificial fly ; and it was made by a hand- 



