312 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. FAttT I. 



does usually dwell, and hide himself, in holes, or amongst 

 stones in clear water ; and in very hot days, will lie a 

 Ions: time very still, and sun himself, and will be easy 

 to he seen upon any flat stone, or any gravel ; at which 

 time, he will suffer an angler to put a hook, baited 

 \vith a small worm, very near unto his very mouth : 

 and he never refuses to bite, nor indeed to be caught 

 with the worst of anglers. Matthiolus* commends him 

 much more, for his taste and nourishment, than for -his 

 shnpe or beauty. 



There is also a little fish called a STICK LEBAG : 

 a fish without scales, but hath his body fenced with 

 several prickles. I know not where he dwells in 

 -winter ; nor what he is good for in summer, but 

 only to make sport for boys and women-anglers, 

 and to feed other fish that be fish of prey : as T routs, 

 in particular, who will bite at him, as at a Penk ; 

 and better, if your hook be rightly baited with him, 

 for he may be so baited as, his tail turning like the 

 sail of a windmill, will make him turn more quick 

 than any Penk or Minnow can. For note, that the 

 nimble turning of that, or the Minnow, is the per- 

 fection of Minnow-fishing. To which ^ end, if you 

 put your hook into his mouth, and out at his tail; 

 and, then having first tied him, with white thread, 

 a little above his tail; and placed him after such a 

 manner on your hook as he is like to turn then, 

 sew up his mouth to your line : And he is like to 

 turn quick, and tempt any Trout : but if he do 

 not turn quick, then turn his tail a little, more 

 or less, towards the inner part, or towards the side 

 of the hook ; or put the Minnow, or Sticklebag, a 

 little more crooked or more strait on your book; 

 until it will turn both true and fast : And then 

 doubt not but to tempt any great Trout that lies 



with fine gravel strewed at the bottom : frequently changing the water, 

 and feeding them with bread and gentles. Those who can take more 

 pleasure in angling for, than in beholding them which, I confess I could 

 never do may catch them with gentles; but though costly, they are but 

 coarse, food. 



* Petrus Andreas Matthiolns, of Sienna, an eminent physician of the 

 sixteenth century, famous for his Commentaries on some of the writings of 

 Dioscorides. 



