CHAP. X. THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 243 



the bottom, yet one or two will lie on the <op of the 

 water, rolling and tumbling themselves whilst the rest 

 are under him at the bottom ; and so you shall perceive 

 him to keep centinel : then mark where he plays most, 

 and stays longest, which commonly is in the broadest 

 and deepest place of the river, and there, or near there- 

 abouts, at a clear bottom and a convenient landing 

 place, take one of your angles ready fitted as aforesaid, 

 and sound the bottom, which should be about eight or 

 ten feet deep ; two yards from the bank is best. Then 

 consider with yourself, 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 labours, to be 

 regarded. 



The GROUND-BAIT. 



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

 ing to the greatness of the stream, and deepness of the 

 water, where you mean to angle of sweet gross-ground 

 barley-malt ; and boil it in a kettle, one or two warms 

 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 hand fuls a little the higher upwards the stream. You 

 may, between your hands, close the malt so fast in hand- 

 fuls, that the water will hardly part it with the fall. 



p 



