164 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PARTI. 



he appears first in the river ; nature having taught 

 him to shelter and hide himself, in the Winter, in 

 ditches that be near to the river, and there both 

 to hide, and keep himself warm, in the mud, or in 

 the weeds which rot not so soon as in a running 

 river in which place if he were in Winter, the dis- 

 tempered floods that are usually in that season would 

 suffer him to take no rest, but carry him headlong to 

 mills and wears, to his confusion. And of these min- 

 nows : First, you are to know, That the biggest size 

 is not the best; and, next, That the middle size and 

 the whitest are the best : and, then, you are to know, 

 That your minnow must be so put on your hook, that 

 it must turn round when 'tis drawn against the stream ; 

 and, that it may turn nimbly, you must put it on a 

 big-sized hook, as I shall now direct you, which is 

 thus: Put your hook in at his mouth, and out of his 

 gill ; then, having drawn your hook two 01? 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 

 threadj 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 strait 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 riot, 

 you are in danger to catch nothing,* for know, that it 

 is impossible 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 anglers 

 know right well, That at some times, and in some 



