202 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



from the bank is best. Then consider with your- 

 self whether that water will rise or fall by the next 

 morning, by reason of any water-mills near, and 

 according to your discretion take the depth of 

 the place where you mean after to cast your 

 ground-bait and to fish, to half an inch, that, the 

 lead lying on or near the ground-bait, the top of 

 the float may only appear upright half an inch 

 above the water. 



Thus you having found and fitted for the place 

 and depth thereof, then go home and prepare 

 your ground-bait ; which is, next to the fruit of 

 your labors, to be regarded. 



The Ground-Bait. 



You shall take a peck or a peck and a half, ac- 

 cording to the greatness of the stream and deep- 

 ness of the water where you mean to angle, of 

 sweet gross-ground barley malt, and boil it in a 

 kettle ; one or two worms is enough ; then strain 

 it through a bag into a tub, the liquor whereof 

 hath often done my horse much good ; and when 

 the bag and malt is near cold, take it down to the 

 water-side about eight or nine of the clock in the 

 evening, and not before ; cast in two parts of your 

 ground-bait squeezed hard between both your 

 hands ; it will sink presently to the bottom, and 

 be sure it may rest in the very place where you 

 mean to angle ; if the stream run hard or move a 

 little, cast your malt in handfuls a little the higher, 

 upwards the stream. You may, between your 



