THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 2O3 



hands, close the malt so fast in handfuls that the 

 water will hardly part it with the fall. 



Your ground thus baited, and tackling fitted, 

 leave your bag with the rest of your tackling and 

 ground-bait near the sporting-place all night ; and 

 in the morning, about three or four of the clock, 

 visit the water-side, but not too near, for they have 

 a cunning watchman, and are watchful themselves 

 too. 



Then gently take one of your three rods and 

 bait your hook, casting it over your ground- 

 bait ; and gently and secretly draw it to you, till 

 the lead rests about the middle of the ground- 

 bait. 



Then take a second rod and cast in about a 

 yard above, and your third a yard below the first 

 rod, and stay the rods in the ground ; but go 

 yourself so far from the water-side that you per- 

 ceive nothing but the top of the floats, which you 

 must watch most diligently. Then, when you 

 have a bite, you shall perceive the top of your 

 float to sink suddenly into the water ; yet never- 

 theless be not too hasty to run to your rods until 

 you see that the line goes clear away ; then creep 

 to the water-side, and give as much line as possi- 

 bly you can ; if it be a good carp or bream, they 

 will go to the farther side of the river, then strike 

 gently, and hold your rod at a bent a little while ; 

 but if you both pull together, you are sure to lose 

 your game, for either your line or hook or hold 

 will break : and after you have overcome them, 



