THE COMPLETE ANGLER. PARf t. 



lent one, EITHER FOR A CARP OR BREAM, in any 

 river or mere : it was given to me by a most honest 

 and excellent angler; and hoping you will prove both, 

 I will impart it to you. 



1 . Let your bait be as big a red worm as you can 

 find, without a knot : Get a pint, or quart, of them, in 

 an evening, in garden-walks, or chalky commons, after 

 a shower of rain ; and put them with clean moss well 

 washed and picked, and the water squeezed out of the 

 moss as dry as you can into an earthen pot or pip- 

 kin set dry; and change the moss, fresh, every three 

 or four days, for three weeks or a month together, 

 then your bait will be at the best, for it will be clear 

 and lively. 



2. Having thus prepared your baits, get your tack- 

 ling ready and fitted tor this sport. Take three long 

 angling-rods; and as many, and more, silk, or silk and 

 hair, lines; and as many large swan, or goose-quill 



floats. Then take a piece of lead made 

 after this manner; and fasten them to the 

 low ends of your lines: Then fasten 

 your link-hook also to the lead ; and 

 let there be about a foot or ten inches, 

 between the lead and the hook : But be sure the lead 

 be heavy enough to sink the float, or quill, a little un- 

 der the water; and not the quill, to bear up the lead, 

 for the lead must lie on the ground. Note, that your 

 link next the hook may be smaller than the rest of your 

 line if you dare adventure, for fear of taking the Pike 

 or Pearch, who will assuredly visit your hooks, till 

 they be taken out as I will shew you afterwards, before 

 either Carp or Bream will come near to bite. Note also, 

 that when the worm is well baited, it will crawl up and 

 down as far as the lead will give leave, which much en- 

 ticeth the fish to bite without suspicion. 



3. Having thus prepared your baits, and fitted your 

 tackling : repair to the river where you have seen 

 them swim in skulls, or shoals in the summer-time, in 

 a hot afternoon, about three or four of the clock; and 

 watch their going forth of their deep holes, and return- 

 ing, which you may well discern, for they return 

 about four of the clock, most of them seeking food ut 



