248 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



frost as you can, and these you may dig up at any 

 time when you intend to use them : these will 

 last till March, and about that time turn to be 

 flies. 



But if you be nice to foul your fingers, which 

 good anglers seldom are, then take this bait : get 

 a handful of well-made malt, and put it into a 

 dish of water, and then wash and rub it betwixt 

 your hands till you make it clean, and as free 

 from husks as you can ; then put that water from 

 it, and put a small quantity of fresh water to it, 

 and set it in something that is fit for that purpose 

 over the fire, where it is not to boil apace, but 

 leisurely and very softly, until it become some- 

 what soft, which you may try by feeling it betwixt 

 your finger and thumb ; and when it is soft, then 

 put your water from it : then take a sharp knife, 

 and turning the sprout-end of the corn upward, 

 with the point of your knife take the back part of 

 the husk off from it, and yet leaving a kind of in- 

 ward husk on the corn, or else it is marred ; and 

 then cut off that sprouted end, I mean a little of 

 it, that the white may appear, and so pull off the 

 husk on the cloven side, as I directed you ; and 

 then cutting off a very little of the other end, that 

 so your hook may enter; and if your hook be 

 small and good, you will find this to be a very 

 choice bait, either for winter or summer, you 

 sometimes casting a little of it into the place where 

 your float swims. 



And to take the roach and dace, a good bait is 



